You never know, the consortium might come back to say, "well, at
the end of the day, I think you already have a top class transport
system. no changes needed, just maybe make the following slight
changes...." duh....
I've worked with consultants before (esp foreign ones) - they will,
(a) on context of gathering information, talk to each and everyone
involved, from the planners, to the policy makers, ask you to tell
them how the current system work, what are the difficulties you
meet, what are the challenges you forsee, blah and blah and they'll
diligently jot down what you tell them.
Then, they will so call do "some problem modelling" using some
propietary software or algorithm that supposedly come up with a
model. Then they will propose lengthy analysis, list down the core
factors / problem areas that should be addressed / taken care
of.
Last but not least, they will give recommendations on the problems
and lo and behold, the recommendations are gleaned from what was
told to them by the various staff / person in charge during the
interviews ! Because only the top top management reads these
reports, they don't know that probably uncle tan fifty hierarchical
ranks below them actually have this solution / proposal.
And if you read further, you realise its wishy washy, broad
motherhood statements - rationalise the operations of the
departments, centralise the decision making process, cut down the
lines of reporting, blah blah...and most of time means -
RETRENCHMENT.....
I firmly believe that for transportation problem, it is an unique
problem for Singapore and I really don't see the point of asking an
Australian consultant, you mean we have no one in Singapore capable
of doing something like this? Whatever happened to the LTA
scholars? Whatever happened to the Policy making ppl? Why can't
Singaporeans solve a Singaporean problem? If you look at metropolis
like New York and Tokyo, most of those problems are solved locally
using ingenius ideas conceived locally. Give the locals a chance,
don't everything run to outsiders.
