05/06/2012

Taking a stand: My experience with the COI | isaw-isphy

isaw-isphy

Taking a stand: My experience with the COI

POSTED ON 1 JUNE 2012 BY ISAW-ISPHY On May 10th, I went to court to attend the Committee of Inquiry (COI) hearing. Prior to the event, I was a little nervous in its anticipation, as I had never been in an inquiry! I wasnt quite sure what to expect. However I calmed myself on deciding that I will just be myself and answer as truthfully and accurately as possible in recalling the events. The experience turned out to be much less frightening. The proceedings were carried out and chaired in a most dignified manner. Everyone, the COI chairman and members, AGC, legal counsels were most professional, lending an appropriate atmosphere of decorum. I was on the stand for five hours. The questions were probing but largely within my capability to answer with the knowledge I have. A few, I had to redirect as those queries required the head of trains or current interim CEO to address as I have not had any executive involvement in SMRT since 5th January, more than four months ago. When I left the courthouse, I finally felt closure to my tenure with the SMRT. However, the next day when I read the newspapers, I felt uncertain if I have really found closure. A couple of articles in The Straits Times (ST) reported several incomplete statements from me. I weighed on whether I should react about these incorrect reporting, as erroneous statements give cause to wrong impressions. I recalled how an uncorrected statement could be repeated so many times in the media that it was taken as truth. I almost tremble every time the infamous statement is repeated in the press especially after the December incidents, to portray my lack of empathy to crowded trains and squeezed passengers saying trains are not crowded, you can get on if you want. This infamous statement I had earlier explained in my blog that this comment was made several years ago, reported correctly but out of context. This comment was an answer to a journalist who asked, why was the train so crowded that she couldnt board at
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05/06/2012

Taking a stand: My experience with the COI | isaw-isphy

9am. My response was that, as 9am is considered post-morning peak hour, trains were not as crowded and that she could get on it. So I said to her that she should be able to get on if she wanted. Although on that morning, there were many who bore witness to this directly related question and answer, my response was nevertheless repeated out of context without reference to the post-morning peak hour of 9am, and resulted in giving readers the impression of my callousness! This is far from the truth of my convictions. So I have decided I will clarify the statements, lest the same misconceptions might once again occur.

Telling the Full Story The 1st article on page A1 of ST on 11 May,Prof Lim retorted You knew the risks, and you didnt do enough. You implemented cable ties. Reading this sentence it would seem that I, a non-engineer, decided on a technical solution, and a cheap and unreliable one at that. The truth is that since the 80s claws have been dropping and it was the engineering contractor of the system that recommended cable ties. This recommendation was made and accepted by MRT Corporation of those days. New claw designs were developed over the years for new systems. In fact in building new line and extensions, LTA has used the much more secure, new positive lock claw system in the past 10 years. In this last 10 years, there has never been consideration in changing the claw system holding up the 3rd rail by either LTA or SMRT. In fact even after December, some experts continued to disagree on the necessity of changing all the claws to the new system. Certainly I had no part to play in technical decisions of claws and cable ties before December. After the December incidents, I had agreed with the head of trains to quickly tie the 3rd rail extensively with cable ties and to use more heavy-duty ones. That was because there was nothing more we could do in the short term as it would take years to change all claws to new generation ones. Cable ties are better than doing nothing! We had quickly engaged contractors to complete tying the whole line over several nights.

Manpower Matters The second statement on the 11 May edition of ST, page A13 reported in the last line of article, when theres attrition we did not replace. This comment was made at the end of a long exchange on manpower cost increases over the years. In answering Prof Lims query that although manpower costs had increased, it was not
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05/06/2012

Taking a stand: My experience with the COI | isaw-isphy

at the same rate as mileage cost increase. My answer was that train management team was able to keep manpower cost increases more modest, due to many productivity initiatives, such as regrouping teams, encouraging multi-tasking etc. My ending comment was in reference to the fact that when we increased productivity, we had therefore not needed to replace staff when there was attrition. However, without context of the preceding conversation on productivity it would lead readers to think that I ordered for non-replacement of staff who had resigned to cut costs and thus leading to shortage of manpower, resulting in poor maintenance etc. Again such foolish decisions were never taken by me personally nor anyone on the team. Instead, we have always emphasised on productivity and to find innovative ways to achieve it. This value is much in keeping with the need of our whole nation where we have a small population with great difficulty in recruiting staff. Arriving at conclusion, I am now finished in clarifying myself and hope to find closure. I can only pray that I will no longer be a victim of misinterpretation caused by incomplete media reporting which are far from being truth! I owe it not only to myself to make this clarification but to the train team as well. They have done a stunning job as declared by Andrew Barr, London Underground. And Peter Gillian, consultant of GTrans International said SMRT handled that (incidents) as best as could be expected. They were experts who testified using many constructive comments like what SMRT does everyday is quite phenomenal, SMRT is seen internationally as a benchmark for Metro operators, its an incredible task.., what SMRT did in the disruptions was probably what top rail operators would have done. Unfortunately these comments were only reported in one single newspaper, The New Paper (11 May edition, pg 13). Till today I believe and saw how everyone in trains and others in SMRT tried their best, gave their most to help commuters and worked with little sleep to recover and strengthen the system as best as was humanly possible. They are my everyday heroes. I was glad to know that many Singaporeans acknowledged them and sent bouquets of flowers to them in December. After numerous farewells my colleagues had organised for me in the last few months, I can now say farewell.

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