Daily Lessons from Life 03 June 2014 - AGC warns CHC Pastor and Singapore's world most efficient public transport system

1. "AGC warns City Harvest pastor for 'contemptous' tweets - CNA 03 June 2014"

Interesting to note this piece of news as CHC's handling of their fund was compared by the Blogger Roy Ngerng that got him into hot soup. It seems that the case has not really been heard and the defendants are NOT found guilty yet. Hmmm.

2. "Study: Singapore's public transport system one of world's most efficient - The Straits Times 03 June 2014

SINGAPORE - Singapore has one of the most cost-efficient public transport networks in the world, according to a study released on Monday.

Conducted by London consulting firm Credo, the study sought to calculate the "economic cost" of inefficient transport to the economies of 35 cities, as well as the economic benefits of investing in transport.

It derived the cost of commuting using factors such as journey time, fares, crowding levels, and ease of using the network. The more efficient a transport network, the lower the impact on productivity.

The study found that in Singapore, the economic cost of transport to an individual commuter is 8.9 per cent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita."

Some contributors cried foul that the proper description should be the most:
cost-efficient' instead of 'efficient'. Other said, whatever!

Lessons for me are:

1. public transportation is a big hot potato in Singapore for the government. Many believe that S'pore's public transportation system is one of the cheapest and most efficient in the world already while some, or many users, felt that it is STILL NOT good enough. The frequent breakdown of the subway lines were particular irritating and garnered the most passionate outbursts of frustration, angers and abuses in the last 18 months BUT seems to have improved a lot as one does not encountered or read of such breakdowns;

2. the recent UNWELCOME, or startling, revelation by the ex-Chairman of the Public Transport Council (PTC) who helm it for 8 or 9 years, that his philosophy has always been: 'if you don't want to pay for a better service public transportation system, you won't get one!' and 'be realistic!!' did not help sooth the emotion of some of these 'I am suffering the poor public transportation' users for sure. This followed by the 'revolutionary nationalization of the operating assets of the public buses' approached announcement recently to FURTHER improve the public transportation probably DID NOT rendered that S'pore's public transportation system is already the MOST cost-efficient one in the world!

The conclusion must be, Singapore is NOT HAPPY with just being the most cost-efficient as rated by this UK consulting company! OR the reality is that the government recognised that our public transportation system is STILL NOT good enough for Singaporeans?;

3. anyway, as a public transportation system users, I am relatively comfortable to wait for 15-mins for a bus or 9-min to get into a subway train. Anytime longer will probably be not very good. Is this too high an expectation for the fares, which had increased annually, that I am paying?

The concern I have MOST with this 'study results' is that Singaporeans read it to be: "Look. There the government goes again. While we are still complaining about the public transportation system been NOT good enough, it rolls out a 'study' to tell us that it is one of the most 'efficient' (or cost-efficient) in the world!" and "Why are you still complaining? why are you NOT BEEN appreciative?".

If this is the case, more explanation needed to close the gap of perception vs. reality?