This is one of the letters that I really enjoy reading after a long and tiring day - knowing that regardless of the painful decisions that our government has to make, there will be people who will be appreciating them at the end of the day. It’s also heartening to know that eventually, every Singaporean will stand firm behind the decisions made by our government and be supporting every single move that the government makes.

After all, united we stand, divided we fall. Together, we will go through tough times with all our fellow Singaporeans for the betterment of our future generations to come. People like Pavin makes me feel that I have not slogged in vain.

Kudos to Govt for making tough and painful decisions to make driving more enjoyable

I REFER to the letter, ‘Take holistic approach in easing traffic jams’ by Mr Chris Yong (ST, Feb 6).

I believe that Mr Yong has missed the whole point of our Government’s intention to make driving more expensive in Singapore.

Mr Yong wanted the LTA to build flyovers and tunnels for cars and light vehicles to get faster-moving vehicles off the road more quickly but this would not be feasible due to our space constraint.

Our road network takes up 12 per cent of land space, slightly less than that used for housing. It is an extremely large number and, clearly, continued increase and expansion of the road network is definitely unsustainable.

Also, Mr Yong should be more specific as to where the desired increase of flyovers and tunnels should be constructed.

The next problem is about cost. How would the Government fund those multi-billion dollar road construction projects? Obviously, road tax would have to be further increased if we desire an ideal and flawless transportation network.

The vehicle population of nearly 500,000 in Singapore is frightening and I support the Government in its efforts to up the cost of driving as I am willing and able to pay top-dollar for clearer and cleaner roads. Expanding the supply side of the road network is not the solution to the problem as, over time, the car population would further increase because of more space for cars and, eventually, abysmal gridlock would reappear. It is therefore a catch-22 situation if the Government were to expand the road network.

The demand side then must be targeted by further increasing toll prices and percentage tax on the open-market value of cars.

I do not understand why the Government offers a rebate on the Parf when its intentions are to make driving more unaffordable. The only reason why traffic conditions have only improved slightly after the increase of ERP rates and wider ERP coverage (leading to unhappy voices saying it is ineffective) is that the rates are still not high enough; not yet reaching the optimum level. If, for example, the ERP rate to enter Orchard Road via Cairnhill Road is $200, would anyone still dare to use Cairnhill Road?

I, therefore, applaud the Government for being undeterred in making tough and painful decisions for the betterment of all and, also, on the way to making driving an exclusive and more expensive way of commuting in Singapore.

Pavin Limanont

Article obtained from straitstimes.com on 9th February 2008

Ridz, Tian Hong and myself were talking about boyfriends and girlfriends and Valentine’s Day and all when we suddenly draw the conclusion that there will come a day when everyone will eventually not get attached and the human race might just come to standstill. Sounds exaggerated? Well, not really if there is such a thing as “real love”. =P

One of us, I shall not mention which of the guys, related the following incident:

• Guy has a crush on a girl. Well, it’s only a crush and nothing happens. It’s when you idolise somebody
• Then the guy may move on to the “like” stage - when the guy will be attracted to the girl but he is not sure if it’s the kind of “boy-like” feeling. You know? Puppy love?
• Then the guy moves on to the “love” stage. That’s when the guy is really concerned about the girl and makes sure that she gets the best and is really happy. Now since no guy would ever say that he’s the best for the girl, he’d move into this cyclic thing when he starts thinking that there will be someone else better for her. Eventually, the girl doesn’t get attached if everyone who likes/loves her start thinking the same way.

Going by this logic all the girls who are loved will eventually not be attached and all the guys… will just remain single.

Quite sad to think of things like this when it’s just less than 1 week before Valentine’s Day =P

Sometimes, I wonder if the ERP UI was a necessity, given that we can “tag” cars and deduct the fees owed via Giro at the end of the month? Of course, someone mentioned that the ERP IU was created so that there would be some use for the Cashcard - in a time when people started questioning the use of it. Now that we have EZ-link, people started wondering if the Cashcard was indeed a redundant thing of the past.

Given the impending implementation of GPS-based ERP, one can’t help but wonder if the LTA will come up with a device that does not require the physical insertion of a cash-valued card but instead bill the owner for the fees owed at the end of the month. As for foreign vehicles who come into Singapore, they can always rent a unit and leave their credit card number or some form of deposit when the take it.

 Then again, I may not be seeing the big picture. Hmm…

THE Chinese New Year mood dimmed for several Bukit Merah View residents when they discovered that their cars were among 22 vehicles whose windscreens had been smashed early yesterday morning.
A serial screen smasher had apparently used an umbrella-shaped tool to pierce the glass and then reached in, hand in glove, to pull out CashCards from the vehicles.

The rampage had taken place at about 2.15am, said resident Mr Andrew Oh, who had seen the thief from his flat window.

The suspect, who is of medium build and wore a white T-shirt and blue jeans, targeted cars with tell-tale covers on their CashCard devices.

One of the victims was Madam Adeline Lim, who is in her 30s. Her grey Honda was one of 14 cars on the fourth level of Block 126A to be hit by the thief, who struck eight other vehicles parked on the fifth level of the multi-storey carpark.

The thief took Madam Lim’s CashCard, worth about $20, but left parking coupons valued at about $100 behind.

Ms Lim said: ‘I’m really disgusted and flabbergasted. This is Chinese New Year.’

Another victim, engineer Low Chor Liang, who lives next door at Block 126, said that he was saddened by the smash and grab.

‘I have no choice but to get over it,’ said Mr Low, 30.

Mr Oh, who is in his 40s, said that he had heard a noise coming from the carpark at about 2.15am.

He peered out of the window and saw the suspect, carrying a long umbrella-shaped tool, near one of the cars.

‘He appeared to be quite professional, not looking around but just looking at the car only.’

Mr Oh said that he then walked over to investigate, but by the time he had reached the block, there was no sign of the suspect.

‘I was lucky. I would have parked the car on the same level as the others but there was one empty spot left on the third level, which I used that night,’ he said.

The police are investigating and ask anyone with information to contact them on 1800-255-0000, said spokesman Ng Siew Hua.

‘At least 20 owners have confirmed that their CashCards were stolen and police would like to remind owners not to leave their cash cards in the IU while their vehicles are parked,’ she added.

vijayan@sph.com.sg

Article obtained from straitstimes.com on 9th February 2008

Ah Meng - Singapore Zoo’s long time (unofficial?) mascot passed away on Friday - the second day of Chinese New Year. She had been an all time favourite with visitors since the Singapore Zoo got her from a family who kept her as an illegal pet.

There will be a memorial service for her at 11am on Sunday at the zoo, and the public will be able to view Ah Meng’s body from 9am.

Rest in peace, Ah Meng.

SHE was a great-looking Singapore girl who rubbed shoulders with royalty, movie stars and statesmen.

People paid to sip tea with her, and countless others liked nothing better than to be photographed next to her.

So when Ah Meng the orang utan died yesterday, aged 48, it marked the end of an era at the Singapore Zoo.

Saddened by the news, former zoo chief Bernard Harrison remembered: ‘She had the character to be a mega-star, the personality to pull that off and became a legend.’

Ah Meng was a household name and remained the zoo’s star attraction, even as age slowed her down. In human terms, she was nearly 95, and is believed to have died of old age.

Born in Sumatra, Indonesia, she arrived at the zoo in 1971 after being removed from a family who kept her as an illegal pet.

Stardom came in 1982 with the zoo’s ‘Breakfast with An Orang Utan’ programme, which featured Ah Meng at centre stage.

Within four years, she featured in almost 30 travel films and more than 270 write-ups worldwide.

Among those who dropped in on her were Britain’s Prince Philip, pop superstar Michael Jackson and actress Elizabeth Taylor.

Such was her pulling power that the then Singapore Tourism Promotion Board made her a Special Tourism Ambassador in 1992, the first non-human recipient of the award.

The zoo’s former head of public relations, Mr Robin Goh, said part of Ah Meng’s charm was how she took to people.

‘She came from a domesticated background as a pet and behaved differently from wild orang utans. She could drink tea from a teacup and looked good for an ape,’ he said.

Ah Meng is survived by four children and six grandchildren.

A memorial will be held at 11am on Sunday at the zoo, and the public will be able to view Ah Meng’s body from 9am.

Reacting to the news, President SR Nathan said at yesterday’s Istana open house that Ah Meng had long been a symbol of the Singapore Zoo.

‘A lot of people, both local and foreigners, have enjoyed her company,’ he said. ‘I’m sure the patrons of the zoo will miss her. But that’s life.’

vijayan@sph.com.sg

Article obtained from straitstimes.com on 9th February 2008