Emergencies in Singapore

I must say when it comes to the law and rules, Singaporeans follow them to the "t". Just the other day I saw a fire engine racing to it's destination but it was caught up in traffic along busy Orchard Road and the traffic lights were not helping. Some drivers tried to give way but most didn't seem to bother. I noticed that when it came to a standstill the fire engine was not blaring its siren but did so only when on the move - strange I thought.

This morning, I witnessed an ambulance caught in early morning traffic along Thomson Road heading to Tan Tock Seng Hospital; just 1-2 minutes away on a good run. Again motorists seemed nonchalant about giving way and the driver of the ambulance even halted for the traffic lights to change at one junction which easily took up about a minute.

So, what exactly is an emergency? Does saving lives and property not fall within the definition. As far as I know, in an emergency every second counts. Do vehicles like ambulances and fire engines have to comply with standard traffic rules? What in the world are the sirens and flashing lights for then? Do the police similarly have to obey traffic rules if on a chase or responding to an emergency?

I've been to many different countries and I think Singapore is quite possibly the only place I have seen such mindless obedience to the law.

The Singaporean Mind

Here we go again. News that the recently appointed CEO of Temasek Holdings, the government's (SIF) investment vehicle Charles (Chip) Goodyear, relinquishing his position whilst in a period of transition with outgoing CEO Ho Ching has set the ever analytical Singaporean mind going into overdrive.

As such announcements are seldom lengthy from the organisation, they tend to fill the mind with all sorts of questions ranging from:

(a) was there a difference in opinion with the Board?
(b) did he not fit in with the culture?
(c) was there restriction to his role/authority, etc.

So, who knows; and is it really so important that the layman even cares? But the press will make a meal of it in any case.

The government and it's agencies seem to indulge in this type of cat and mouse guessing game insofar as divulging information is concerned and to many this is seen as a healthy form of democracy. That's PR for you. So, what's your take?

HOLY MEN WITH NOT SO WHOLESOME DEEDS

The ongoing case of Reverend Ming Yi, a Buddhist monk in Singapore has revealed yet again that even holy men are merely human and susceptible to everyday moral hazards. In the name of religion people all around the world give/contribute without a second thought assuming that all donations/contributions will be properly used to help the poor and needy. But over and over again, be it in Singapore or the USA or even the Middle-east, cases of corrupt guardians of our faith have been exposed. We have to accept it that no one is perfect; good and bad (evil) exist side by side.

Whilst it is obvious that we cannot condone such behaviour and checks and balances by the authorities have proven necessary once again, we must keep up with our faiths in religion. Every religion preaches good which we should all endeavour to practice daily. However, we should never reduce ourselves to mere followers (blindly in most cases) but review and reflect all religious teachings in relation to our own lives and circumstances with wisdom.

Madoff and Your Money

Just what do investors get back from the Madoff fiasco? Practically nothing since assets in his or his wife's name amount to only millions in comparison. Latest is that poor Mrs Madoff got evicted from their $6m pad as authorities begin to confisticate their assets.

So, what happened to all that money? Is it stashed away in some secret Swiss account or really blown away in the last 12 months of the financial meltdown? Unless there is further investigation into the matter we will never know or perhaps that's how it's intended. Let's put it this way, Madoff made-off (pun intended) with your money with little to trace!

Bernie Madoff - A Scapegoat

The verdict's out and Bernie will be in prison for life. But some questions remain unanswered.

For instance, how could a $65B scandal go on unnoticed for so long and how could it have been perpetrated by just one person. Don't his books get audited? Can you imagine he confessed after all these years and that it was his own sons who blew the whistle on him?!!

Also, what happened to all the money entrusted in his funds - all wiped out due to plunging markets?

I find it all much too contrite that one man could do so much rigging all by himself. Surely his children and some members of management in his office were in on it. So, what are the authorities going to do about this? Another conspiracy, another tale to be told.