I was looking through my electircity bill that day and a thought came to my mind. Since water is relatively cheaper than electricity, I need to have a better water flow, to save on the electricity bill I'm paying for that extra few minutes of toilet light that I'm on-ing each day. When I moved in to my current place, the water pressure has been low but it was just high enough to prevent us from making a fuss over it.
So, I called PUB and asked if they have a prescribed benchmark for water head (or aka water pressure). Knowing that they are the govt body, I'm sure they have standards for everything.
So I dialed 18002846600 and complained about the low water pressure. Then I was told that for HDB units that is above 5th floor, they fall under HDB, if it is 4th floor and below, the water source comes from PUB straight and falls under PUB. Then I realised from HDB that it is actually Town Council that I should be looking for as it concerns the water tank that my water supply is suppose to come from.
After all the mambo jumbo, I finally lodge a complaint successfully with PUB and at the same time, I called Town Council again. So last night, the PUB man came and opened up the meter, etc. They foundd the meter was working perfectly fine... not surprising cos I DIDN"T complain about the meter... I may not be a PhD, but I'm certainly not dumb. To say the least, a huge time of my NUS life was spent doing pressure heads, and valve controls. Anyways, I got PUB to help me make a complaint to Town Council also. The PUB chap claimed that Town Council needs to clear the choke and that PUB is clear from this.. They left. Yes 2 of them. To be more specific, 2 M.
Then today, the Town Council plumber called me at around noon. He came and tried to have a look at the situation. Then he claimed that the problem is actually just before the meter. That part, however, belongs to PUB. He tried to clear the sediment and has been successful he reported. "Tonight you come back, sure pressure big big".
Tonight came and the water was tested. Other than lots of bubbles at onset, nothing has changed. So i called the plumber. His HP was off. So I called the PUB 1800 number again. Then a Faridah told me to call maintenance. The number is 62824344. Then I spoke to a man and he said this is the SOC. It is an operations control centre. Not Maintenenace. He tried to brush my away and then I said I'm pushed by PUB and Town Council already, please do not brush me off. He said he will get the officer to call me. The officer from Maintenance. Till now, still no calls. I tried to call 62824344, no one picked.
Thank you civil servants. You bunch of marons.
I've decided that this game is quite fun. I'll continue to play it until I get a satisfactory result or until I get busy with other things... I am a Singaporean afterall.
Friday, September 16, 2011
Saturday, August 20, 2011
Precedence
Will the guy in charge of security at SMRT lose his job?
No, cos when Mas Selamat escaped, they didn't sack.
Will any of the Tans be charged if they do any campaigning 1 day before Voting day?
No, because they will only get a stern warning at most.
The power of setting precedence.
No, cos when Mas Selamat escaped, they didn't sack.
Will any of the Tans be charged if they do any campaigning 1 day before Voting day?
No, because they will only get a stern warning at most.
The power of setting precedence.
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Chasing Cars
The COE prices have been crazy lately. It was introduced many years back in Singapore to prevent the number of cars to go out of control. Singapore being land scarced, and a growing population at that time, saw a need for such measures to curb traffic congestions, pollutions, etc.
Today, COE has a different meaning. The price of that piece of paper is like 40k? It is almost the price of a car itself.
So why did it balloon till such a state?
Singapore is hungry to be a vibrant first world city. In fact, she is very hungry and will do anything and everything to obtain that goal. we have 2 casinos in recent years to attract the rich and powerful. Not wanting its residents to be bankrupt and cause crime rates to increase, means to prevent locals from going in was established. SGD 100 was the entrance fee for locals who want to enter the casinos.
To be a vibrant city, the income of the citizens, type of housings, vehicles on the road, everything plays a part...
To give an example, I've been to Vietnam 2 times this year. There are many motorbikes. A lot more than cars. The traffic is congested and polution is high. In my opinion, it is not too nice for the image for Vietnam.
This year, I have also been to China twice. Once to a rural place. There were farmers working on the land when the plane landed. The vehicles there are tractors (on the road), trishaws, old cars, broken motor bikes. Again, bad image. However, the 2nd city I was in in china was different. It was a rich city with people driving Audi, VV, and other European brands. Though they were made in China, it still gave the city a very good reputation. It is a city just beside Shanghai. It is that league.
So back to Singapore. We have to up the quality of our cars on the road. How? Up the COE. Push out those who cannot afford big cars.
This is confirmed in the recent report by ST that China brand cars have pathetic sales records.
For housing, there are measures in place to restrict how many houses an individual can buy. There are rules in place. If we want to limit the number of cars on the road, we should apply the same rules. In fact, ERP serves to curb that problem also. An issue of usage. However, we are just allowing the COE to increase in price. So that the rich fella can have 2 lambos and a fleet of BMs while the poor fella has to squeeze in MRTs and the pregnant lady who has done her duty to up the population of Singapore will have problem getting a cab and having to squeeze in the over crowded public transport.
Today, COE has a different meaning. The price of that piece of paper is like 40k? It is almost the price of a car itself.
So why did it balloon till such a state?
Singapore is hungry to be a vibrant first world city. In fact, she is very hungry and will do anything and everything to obtain that goal. we have 2 casinos in recent years to attract the rich and powerful. Not wanting its residents to be bankrupt and cause crime rates to increase, means to prevent locals from going in was established. SGD 100 was the entrance fee for locals who want to enter the casinos.
To be a vibrant city, the income of the citizens, type of housings, vehicles on the road, everything plays a part...
To give an example, I've been to Vietnam 2 times this year. There are many motorbikes. A lot more than cars. The traffic is congested and polution is high. In my opinion, it is not too nice for the image for Vietnam.
This year, I have also been to China twice. Once to a rural place. There were farmers working on the land when the plane landed. The vehicles there are tractors (on the road), trishaws, old cars, broken motor bikes. Again, bad image. However, the 2nd city I was in in china was different. It was a rich city with people driving Audi, VV, and other European brands. Though they were made in China, it still gave the city a very good reputation. It is a city just beside Shanghai. It is that league.
So back to Singapore. We have to up the quality of our cars on the road. How? Up the COE. Push out those who cannot afford big cars.
This is confirmed in the recent report by ST that China brand cars have pathetic sales records.
For housing, there are measures in place to restrict how many houses an individual can buy. There are rules in place. If we want to limit the number of cars on the road, we should apply the same rules. In fact, ERP serves to curb that problem also. An issue of usage. However, we are just allowing the COE to increase in price. So that the rich fella can have 2 lambos and a fleet of BMs while the poor fella has to squeeze in MRTs and the pregnant lady who has done her duty to up the population of Singapore will have problem getting a cab and having to squeeze in the over crowded public transport.
Saturday, July 30, 2011
Update
Realised it's been 3 months since i last blogged. Aug is coming, time flies.
Many things have happened since the last entry. For one, I've stepped down as a CGL. Many have asked why. Well it is not easy to explain as some of those who have stepped down as well will be able to identify with me. Did something happen? was it something I saw or heard? Was I offended by someone?
I doubt anyone will read this but I think I will want to pen somethings down before it gets deleted from my memory. It is a hard decision to make. After 6.5 years. Some 300 over sermon and cell grp meetings that I have conducted, I've decided to stop. Do I miss taking a cell grp, conducting a meeting? Yes.
the first ever cell grp meeting that I have attended was at jelaine's place. That was in Jurong East back then. When i was in secondary school. I love the warmth and the chance to see how a Christian house was like, how the culture is like. How serious people were with God and religion. That's my introduction to application Christianity. How people said grace. How people worship God in the confort of their home. How they shared about their lives and encourage one another in whatever trials someone is going through in the pack. How there was a strong hope for a better life. a vision to work towards. I wanted my life to be like that in the future.
Things have changed. perhaps after the incident, we were much more relaxed. Things are optional. Often it is not what happens to an organization that shows it's strength but how it reacts to a situation that shows its true character. So how did we react to the incident? How did we fair? Why ask for suggestions when it is only a talk-cock exercise? we do not want wayang bikin, we want real solutions to real problems. Why set up a school only so that someone's KPI is met? job creation? whatever generates more harm than good must be stopped immediately. Things have to be tracked. Lives we are talking about. Seriousness have died. A tree is known by its fruit. If I want to know a tree, I just need to look at the PA and I know what is acceptable what is not. You have no character whatsoever. It is disgusting. where is the progess? Where is the plan? and the continuity plan? are you all stupid or what? We need brains. God gave them, so use them. Perhaps only 1 man is using his brains. Not enough.
So well, I have decided to pull out my resources. No, I'm still tithing. My time is devoted elsewhere. My precious - my wife, has been pulled out. Crap. Not easy to answer the same questions in every interview... Finally. Hope that things will get better.
As for me, I've been traveling. Yeah, it is tiring. but it is interesting. After a few trips to vietnam with the wife and colleague, I went to Bangkok with my mom and the week after, to hong kong with the wife and the week after to China for work. Now I'm back, I'm told I'll be going to Taiwan in 2 weeks' time. And China probably a week after Taiwan.
Interesting to note that throughout all these traveling, I miss my wife. thought of her in the hotel room, thought of her in the plane. Remembered the time I hostipalised and she was there taking care of me. Someone once said that when you are dead drunk, and someone sends you home to your doorstep, you will always remember this person. I am never drunk. Almost in China, but no. But I remember who takes care of me. Who changed the dressing to my wounds. Who helped me when I needed help. Who was there to lift me up when I was almost out. I remember.
On another note, I just spent some time on a saturday playing "Take my life". Not the latest song. Been a while since I've been to church it feels. Most songs are foreign to me. But it;s good to strum the guitar once again.
Many things have happened since the last entry. For one, I've stepped down as a CGL. Many have asked why. Well it is not easy to explain as some of those who have stepped down as well will be able to identify with me. Did something happen? was it something I saw or heard? Was I offended by someone?
I doubt anyone will read this but I think I will want to pen somethings down before it gets deleted from my memory. It is a hard decision to make. After 6.5 years. Some 300 over sermon and cell grp meetings that I have conducted, I've decided to stop. Do I miss taking a cell grp, conducting a meeting? Yes.
the first ever cell grp meeting that I have attended was at jelaine's place. That was in Jurong East back then. When i was in secondary school. I love the warmth and the chance to see how a Christian house was like, how the culture is like. How serious people were with God and religion. That's my introduction to application Christianity. How people said grace. How people worship God in the confort of their home. How they shared about their lives and encourage one another in whatever trials someone is going through in the pack. How there was a strong hope for a better life. a vision to work towards. I wanted my life to be like that in the future.
Things have changed. perhaps after the incident, we were much more relaxed. Things are optional. Often it is not what happens to an organization that shows it's strength but how it reacts to a situation that shows its true character. So how did we react to the incident? How did we fair? Why ask for suggestions when it is only a talk-cock exercise? we do not want wayang bikin, we want real solutions to real problems. Why set up a school only so that someone's KPI is met? job creation? whatever generates more harm than good must be stopped immediately. Things have to be tracked. Lives we are talking about. Seriousness have died. A tree is known by its fruit. If I want to know a tree, I just need to look at the PA and I know what is acceptable what is not. You have no character whatsoever. It is disgusting. where is the progess? Where is the plan? and the continuity plan? are you all stupid or what? We need brains. God gave them, so use them. Perhaps only 1 man is using his brains. Not enough.
So well, I have decided to pull out my resources. No, I'm still tithing. My time is devoted elsewhere. My precious - my wife, has been pulled out. Crap. Not easy to answer the same questions in every interview... Finally. Hope that things will get better.
As for me, I've been traveling. Yeah, it is tiring. but it is interesting. After a few trips to vietnam with the wife and colleague, I went to Bangkok with my mom and the week after, to hong kong with the wife and the week after to China for work. Now I'm back, I'm told I'll be going to Taiwan in 2 weeks' time. And China probably a week after Taiwan.
Interesting to note that throughout all these traveling, I miss my wife. thought of her in the hotel room, thought of her in the plane. Remembered the time I hostipalised and she was there taking care of me. Someone once said that when you are dead drunk, and someone sends you home to your doorstep, you will always remember this person. I am never drunk. Almost in China, but no. But I remember who takes care of me. Who changed the dressing to my wounds. Who helped me when I needed help. Who was there to lift me up when I was almost out. I remember.
On another note, I just spent some time on a saturday playing "Take my life". Not the latest song. Been a while since I've been to church it feels. Most songs are foreign to me. But it;s good to strum the guitar once again.
Monday, May 2, 2011
Parable of the Policeman
A certain policeman was patrolling the streets and at the foot of a block, he saw a heated argument taking place between 2 guys. He stood a distance away from the situation and observed. After some time, one guy took out a knife and stabbed the other person. The policeman continued to stand at the side and watched the entire incident unfold. The stabbing continued and finally, the person was fatally wounded and by the time the paramedics arrived, he was already dead.
In the court of law, the lawyers questioned the policeman and asked why didn't he react to the situation. "Weren't you suppose to stop crimes?" they asked.
In his defence, the policeman said, but I did nothing wrong. I didn't instigate them to fight. And I didn't cause the killing to take place. I'm not at fault.
So the question we all ask ourselves is if this policeman is not required to be accountable despite having the responsibilities by holding that positioin? Or is he totally innocent as he, technically, didn't cause the cime to take place?
In the court of law, the lawyers questioned the policeman and asked why didn't he react to the situation. "Weren't you suppose to stop crimes?" they asked.
In his defence, the policeman said, but I did nothing wrong. I didn't instigate them to fight. And I didn't cause the killing to take place. I'm not at fault.
So the question we all ask ourselves is if this policeman is not required to be accountable despite having the responsibilities by holding that positioin? Or is he totally innocent as he, technically, didn't cause the cime to take place?
Monday, April 25, 2011
Testimony
Was looking at my CG blog and was just thinking of shutting it down when I stumbled upon an old testimony I posted back in 2009. Was very touched by it and so here it is...
Huiqin and I were desperate for a venue for our photoshoot as we were both too busy to get into serious planning. On the day where we met our photographer, we had to tell him where and we just gave raffles marina as the 2nd venue. After that night, Huiqin dropped RM an e-mail and it states that we had to pay about SGD 200 plus as we are booking it quite last minute.
Both of us are very tight now as we had just completed BF. SGD 200 plus is indeed a lot for us. Then, I remembered I had met a friend when I was in Malaysia about 1 yr ago. I dropped him a sms and he had his contacts. In the end, he got the manager of RM to call me and the total amount I needed to pay was 0 dollars.
Thank God for this saving and truly God is good. Savings here and there goes a long long way...
- Kenneth
Huiqin and I were desperate for a venue for our photoshoot as we were both too busy to get into serious planning. On the day where we met our photographer, we had to tell him where and we just gave raffles marina as the 2nd venue. After that night, Huiqin dropped RM an e-mail and it states that we had to pay about SGD 200 plus as we are booking it quite last minute.
Both of us are very tight now as we had just completed BF. SGD 200 plus is indeed a lot for us. Then, I remembered I had met a friend when I was in Malaysia about 1 yr ago. I dropped him a sms and he had his contacts. In the end, he got the manager of RM to call me and the total amount I needed to pay was 0 dollars.
Thank God for this saving and truly God is good. Savings here and there goes a long long way...
- Kenneth
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Bus Routes (2)
Here's the reply from the authority.... What can I say???
Dear Mr Teo
We refer to your email of 18 October 2010.
Feeder bus services play the important roles of feeding coumuters to/from the MRT stations as well as connecting residents to key amenities within the estates. In the case of Service 334, it connects residents in Jurong West St 42 and Jurong East Ave 1 areas to the MRT station, bus interchange and amenities like the library in Jurong East. Being the transport hub for the area, residents can conveniently transfer to other bus services or the train via the East West or North South Lines. If residents wish to access Lakeside MRT Station, they can still do so using Service 98 or 187 along Jurong West Ave 1. The situation is similar for the case of Service 229, which connects residents to the MRT station, bus interchange and amenities like the hawker center and Polyclinic at Bedok. For Bedok South residents wishing to go to Tanah Merah MRT Station, they can do so using Service 12 or 14.
Given the above considerations, we find the connectivity to MRT stations for these two areas to be reasonable. Nevertheless we note your feedback and we will keep it under consideration for future review as land use and transport development evolve over time.
We thank you for writing in. Yours sincerely
SIGNED IN LOTUS NOTES)
CHAN HON WAI SENIOR
TRANSPORT PLANNER
*We invite you to share your views on land transport related issues with us at http://talk2lta.lta.gov.sg. Now, you can also send us your feedback via SMS at "77LTA" (77582).
Dear Mr Teo
We refer to your email of 18 October 2010.
Feeder bus services play the important roles of feeding coumuters to/from the MRT stations as well as connecting residents to key amenities within the estates. In the case of Service 334, it connects residents in Jurong West St 42 and Jurong East Ave 1 areas to the MRT station, bus interchange and amenities like the library in Jurong East. Being the transport hub for the area, residents can conveniently transfer to other bus services or the train via the East West or North South Lines. If residents wish to access Lakeside MRT Station, they can still do so using Service 98 or 187 along Jurong West Ave 1. The situation is similar for the case of Service 229, which connects residents to the MRT station, bus interchange and amenities like the hawker center and Polyclinic at Bedok. For Bedok South residents wishing to go to Tanah Merah MRT Station, they can do so using Service 12 or 14.
Given the above considerations, we find the connectivity to MRT stations for these two areas to be reasonable. Nevertheless we note your feedback and we will keep it under consideration for future review as land use and transport development evolve over time.
We thank you for writing in. Yours sincerely
SIGNED IN LOTUS NOTES)
CHAN HON WAI SENIOR
TRANSPORT PLANNER
*We invite you to share your views on land transport related issues with us at http://talk2lta.lta.gov.sg. Now, you can also send us your feedback via SMS at "77LTA" (77582).
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