2/16/2015

A Town Council is not a provision shop


A Town Council is not your provision shop where you could hop around to another one when you are not happy with the service. It is not a shop that can open and close as it likes. It needs to be there providing essential services for the residents. Even a provision shop like 7 eleven has a mission to serve the people at all hours, practically 365 days of the year except one. This is the mindset of an organization wanting to serve the people, to be there when the people need it.
 

Can a Town Council stop functioning for a few weeks, a few months, whenever there is a change of officer bearers, whenever there is a change of political party in charge? It is unthinkable that the services would be disrupted when the MP changed hands. It is unthinkable that the incumbent can simply remove its operating system, its computer software and hardware and leaving the successor in the lurch, to start all over again, to bring in a new computer system, a new set of officers and staff, probably knowing nothing of the functions and management of a Town Council, a new set of contractors, cleaners etc etc.
 

How can a Town Council function this way, being crippled after every change of office bearers? It is not easy to get a new system and a new set of staff to get it running. What are the safeguards and provisions to ensure that a Town Council will continue to function regardless of who is the political master, like the civil service and the uniform services?
 

Is the current Town Council system good for the people? Is this what you called good governance? Why is the Town Council not part of the govt’s essential services to the people, that it would continue to function comes what may? The people deserve an Uninterrupted TC providing continuous services at all time. Who is responsible to set this right?
 

You tell me.

22 comments:

Ⓜatilah $ingapura⚠️ said...

Get 7-11 to run the TC lah. They have proven that they can operate an enterprise, and run 24/7/364 as a very tight ship, remain profitable and sustainable.

You never hear of a 7-11 cocking up. They even have strict protocols handling cash---they are essentially uncheatable and unrobbable. The exist to serve, and no matter where they are in the world, they perform in a STANDARDISED manner.

The private sector rocks lah. If you do a bad job, you lose money and very quickly you are out of business.

In govt, if you do a bad job, you lose money...but fear not...you just blame someone else and stay in business or get a promotion, or both! Need money? Tax more or increase your monopoly charges!

Town councils, like all govt entities are monopolies---no competition. Charge what they like. Get shit service, but still have to pay.

Anonymous said...

The people deserve the town council they voted for.

There must be no safety net for it to be fair. Likewise, I voted for WP, I do not want to see PAP coming here to meddle with town management matters, that's why I voted for WP ! WP's manifesto, people friendly services and who knows, lower SCCC charges could be possible. Who wants the loser party to come here ?

Anonymous said...

"Can a Town Council stop functioning for a few weeks, a few months, whenever there is a change of officer bearers, whenever there is a change of political party in charge?"

Why not? It's the choice of the majority voters what, knowing full well that there is a 93% chance of the Town Council stop functioning for a few weeks if they voted for a change of political party in charge.

Anonymous said...

That's why 60% are very scared they accidentally vote PAP out in a GE because not only WP is not ready to be govt, but also not ready to properly managed a Town Council that has a GRC. But in a by-election and for SMC still OK lah, and Punggol East won by even a WP Ah Lian is testimony to that.

Anonymous said...

So after this episode of WP being lambasted in Paliament for the way, some even unlawful, they managed the Town Council, the 60% are even more convinced than ever that they should not vote opposition in next GE. And some of the 40% which voted opposition previously are also feeling a bit scared to vote opposition next GE.

So in a way, this episode is also a brilliant strategy, whether they intended it to be or not, for PAP to win more votes in the next GE.

Anonymous said...

The PAP gov't is the culprit in town councils mess and high s & cc that resident have to pay. Long time ago, all services for HDB flats were managed by HDB, and residents paid lower s & cc because of economic of scale. Why set up town councils and make elected MPs to manage town councils?

Anonymous said...

"TCs must be neutered to serve all citizens, no politicking, no monkeying around. Watch the monkeys and you will know." : Anon 11.39 am

I don't agree.

The residents voted the party based on the party's manifesto and vision, e.g, one party may have a vision of a vibrant estate while another party vision is lesser malls and friendlier 24/7 MPs. So whichever party is elected should be the one who will run the estate totally. We must respect the residents who voted the party.

There is no monkeying around. The only monkeys were the ones who were handed the opportunity but screwed it totally kaput until their own accountants kee chiu and surrender. Who were able to monkey the accounts except the monkeys employed at the town council? And you trust these monkeys to run the country?

Anonymous said...

I think PAP Millionaire Shamugam is not very constructive in his criticism of AHPTEC.
Why does he not offer constructive solutions?
PAP always ask for constructive criticism and constructive solutions from its critics.
Two faced double standard PIGS.

Kaffein said...

Question is -
Did the previous Aljunied GRC TC used the TC funds of the people to pay for their TC system?

If yes, then it should stay where it is. If no, then it has every right to take it back.

But then we already know the funds were used from the TC which were paid by the people.

So that leaves a begging question of whom the ex-Aljunied GRC is serving - themselves or the people?

Kaffein

b said...

TCs are setup to hand public monies to private cronies. Many ruling party relatives and friends benefit from such arrangements immensely over many years already. This is nothing new lah.

b said...

Even the law ministry are heavily involved with ONE very expensive but quality soso law firm. No need to be a genius to understand why that is so.

Anonymous said...

"It is unthinkable that the incumbent can simply remove its operating system, its computer software and hardware and leaving the successor in the lurch, to start all over again, to bring in a new computer system, a new set of officers and staff, probably knowing nothing of the functions and management of a Town Council, a new set of contractors, cleaners etc etc."

I think the computer system was thoroughly debated but you plainly forgotten or intentionally left out.

LTK is not known to be a person to be bullied, or suffer in silence. He is a tiger. During the last debate about systems, it was revealed that WP on its own voluntary terminated the contract for the computer system, saying that it wanted to develop their own system. I quote. There you go.

As for cleaners and contractors, I m surprised WP cant find the suitable people in their own constituency, which is actually very big with a huge population. That they have to give to their "own friends".

What you have written skew the facts completely to your advantage. That is not very professional writing redbean.

Anonymous said...

yes, your are telling the truth.

Anonymous said...

Lee Kuan Yew Quotes
--------------------
"The party would withdraw services to the two opposition-held seats of Anson and Potong Pasir, and if all of Singapore votes us out, we withdraw all services everywhere and entirely."
- On Potong Pasir and Anson electing non-PAP MPs

http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Talk:Lee_Kuan_Yew

It's not as if the old fart never warned Singaporeans about what he will do if PAP gets voted out.
We just didn't believe him because we thought he was such a nice man.

Anonymous said...

"Please do not assume that you can change governments. Young people don't understand this"
-- MM Lee Kuan Yew on the results of the 2006 election

SOURCE:
http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Talk:Lee_Kuan_Yew

It's not as if the old fart never warned Singaporeans about what he will do if PAP gets voted out.
We just didn't believe him because we thought he was such a nice man.

Anonymous said...

America’s Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, who oversees a budget of about $700 billion, makes approximately $157,000 a year.

His counterpart in Singapore, Defense Minister Ng Eng Hen, who supervises a budget of about $15 billion and roughly 70,000 troops, earns the equivalent of $1.2 million a year.

Is something askew here?

SOURCE:
http://www.realclearworld.com/articles/2011/06/22/singapores_gold-plated_ministers_99559.html

Anonymous said...

Anon 5:06,

You think the TC is a responsible creation for the good of the residents?

You think you comments about RB is not skewed? Just reveal yourself who you are and we will know where you are coming from.

Anonymous said...

RB article is worse than skewed; it is misinformation.

He conveniently left out the most important piece of information which is that at that time WP terminated, and not PAP withdrew the services. The reason being WP wanted to develop their own system. Not my imagination, but WP said it themselves.

Anonymous said...

Mr. Chua a solid article with an important question aiming at the well being of Singaporeans that need an affirmative answer.

Chua Chin Leng aka redbean said...

IBs cannot take leave for new year and still guarding here trying to stir shit. Election must be around the corner.

Anonymous said...

LKY: "The party would withdraw services to the two opposition-held seats of Anson and Potong Pasir, and if all of Singapore votes us out, we withdraw all services everywhere and entirely."

LKY, I voted against PAP. Can you remove us from NS reservist cycles (no, i mean military services)?

Unknown said...

Don't talk cock! It was the previous contractor serving the PAP-run Aljunied that wanted out. LTK realised that he cannot depend on a pro-PAP contractor who suddenly wanted out to continue. So he has to get his contractor to develop his own system.