12/11/2012

Should Sinkies pay for the impending bus fare hike?



The almost instantaneous reaction by most Sinkies is no, they should not be paying for the pay hikes of the bus drivers. The robotic type will auto reply, if got improve in service quality ok lor. With so many pay hikes in the past, if every pay hike led to a little improvement in service quality, the services would have been perfect by now. Though the pay hike will in a way challenge the principles of cheap, better and fast workers, it seems that right from the top, from the ministers to the masses, there is a consensus and good justification for this pay hike. At least the ministers are saying so or suggesting so.

And the money must come from somewhere, or from someone. Who dunno? From the directors and top management? How could anyone be so audacious to think of this? It would affect their lifestyle and they may be less motivated to work for the bus companies and the service quality will be badly affected. There is still the spectre of corruption lurking in the shadow when they are not paid well. Do you really want this? From the shareholders? How can? The shareholders’ interests must be taken care of as they are shareholders of the company. They took risk of losing their money even in a monopoly business, big big risky. Don’t always expect the Govt to pump in $1b to the rescue.

If not the shareholders or directors or top management, then who? Cheng hu? The Cheng hu already promised to give $1.1b so how to ask for more? Cheng hu where got so much money? Reserves cannot touch.

I think the best source of fund for the pay hike of drivers must still come from the commuters. Some will willingly accept the increase if the bus operators can promise to improve the service quality. As for those who are not willing to foot the bill, one suggestion is to give them a $50 top up to sweeten and soften their resistance. After using up the $50, they will not feel the difference in the new fares, or even forgotten about the higher fares. They would get use to the new fares.

And for the stubborn ones, just tell them that the hike will not cost more than a plate of char kway teow a month. It will only amount to a few cents. They will not feel anything at all. A plate of kway teow a month would not cause them to tighten the belt. The commuters must get use to paying for quality service, for quality management and directors, and the interests of the shareholders. Nothing comes free. There is no free lunch. If they don’t pay, then they must be prepared for lower standard of public transportation.

23 comments:

Anonymous said...

everyone here should listen to this, andrew loh giving it to pap mp gan thiam poh on lee tuch yew announcement that bus fares must go up if drivers' pay increased. mp gan going round the mulberry bush. pathetic. and andrew not letting him go. shiok.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=CQxRsyQ2Psg

Anonymous said...

oh yes. and good morning rebean.

Anonymous said...

Listen to a speech by President Obama.
And listen to this MP Gan Thiam Poh.
Compare their salaries and see whether you think you are getting your money's worth.

Anonymous said...

singapore mp's cannot survive american politics or even malaysian cut throat politics. they will be stepped on like cockroaches. they get a free ride into parliament just to fill up the seats. yet they are paid millions and get to call us stupid. now who is stupider, the pappies or the sinkies who voted in the pappies?

Anonymous said...

A plate less of char kway teow will do anyyone a lot of good. Less fat, less cholestrol, less heart problem and more joy rides on buses and train. Good to have the higher fares kick in as soon as possible.

Anonymous said...

If one's pay is dependent on 1 plate of char kway teow, 2m plates would mean an increase of $2m. Not bad logic.

Anonymous said...

Raising fares means some pay increases for the drivers and more pay increases for you know who.

Anonymous said...

Can't imagine how on earth he can ever be a MP, babbling and incoherent!

Anonymous said...

Talents Singaporeans should be proud of and be willing to pay world class salaries.

Gintai_昇泰 said...

Read this http://xuyun74.blogspot.sg/2012/12/mr-lui-tuck-yew-money-is-over-here.html?m=0
I'm not saying anything. The facts are there.

Anonymous said...

These bear repeating.

Whose interest is the minister serving? Why is he jumping the gun suggesting fare increase for the operators? Is he the spokesman for the operators? He must be in full of conflict that he cannot think straight at all.

Singapore Inc. Is full of elites that they are all working to protect their interest and system. Nevermind the conflicts of interest that are obvious. Where accountability becomes difficult for them to take.

But, they continue to push this out of their way? How? You complained about a problem, they solved it by making you pay for it. And charge you for the solution as well. Sounds familiar?

After raiding the reserves of $1.1 bil with only the head of the previous minister to show for, are they about to raid it again? Use the head twice? Cannot use the current minister's head as he hasn't done anything, just said some silly things.

Asking commuters to sacrifice again seems to be a good way - to preserve the system, protect jobs for the boys, safeguard a GLC investment, and on and on to the very top.........?

So, can you see clearly now? If not, read again.

faber

Asia Pacific Bullion said...

if they don't increase the public bus fares. That will be good.

Anonymous said...

If you argue that the salary increase for bus drivers should come from the top guns and shareholders, they will surely say that nobody will want to be top guns in the transport companies if they are not paid enough.

I think Singaporeans are getting tired of such lame justifications.

Chua Chin Leng aka redbean said...

Hi Asia Pacific Bullion, welcome to the blog. If the noise from the public is loud enough, they would have to think more carefully.

Anonymous said...

Thats why we need more alternative parties in the gov. any party power should be diluted to below 25%. why vote for a party that is as useless as pigs, i also do not understand. maybe daft people deserves a greedy gov loh.

Anonymous said...

this is just tip of iceberg lah. when mp expenses come into light (like in uk) you will really wonder why the need to have mp.

Anonymous said...

Redbean, I like your last paragraph. It sums up all the arguments that the PAP would come up to justify the increase when it comes. This outdated template argument of the PAP never changes. Just see.

Ⓜatilah $ingapura⚠️ said...

Whether they should or shouldn't pay is irrelevant.

The fact is fares are going to rise, and passengers are going to pay more. It's a done deal.

Of course no one is forced to use SMRT. You can walk... or pray to Baby Jesus and ask him to help :-)

Anonymous said...

Lui Tuck Yew thought he got it made when he commented on the need for a pay hike for the drivers and of course the commuters would have to pay for it. He did not see what was coming.

Anonymous said...

Radar Yew thought he was the first to jump the gun. But being overly eager to take the credit, he got roasted first, in cyberspace.

Anonymous said...

As the self-proclaimed cyber sheriff, he had to shoot first lah!

Anonymous said...

"As the self-proclaimed cyber sheriff, he had to shoot first lah!"
Yah shoot from his ass and sinkie had to smell it.

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