URA + STB + HDB + SBS + LTA = USELESS

Profounder SG

So the plan to rejuvenate Orchard Road has been released and presto, the centrepiece is to erect 2 iconic buildings??

Can anyone believe the stupidity of our Ministries and all the scholars??

Can't these people come up with anything NEW? So what are we gonna have in the buildings? More shopping malls and more office towers? And what are we gonna have in the shopping malls? More Watsons, more Cold Storage and more Giordanos? Or for a little change, maybe try Giant instead of Cold Storage.

And what iconic buildings after billions have been wasted building crap ugly structures like:
1. the new National Library - a modern monstrosity of metal and steel that totally lacks character and hardly blends in with the area (think: Raffles Hotel).

2. the new Supreme Court - gosh, as a S'porean, I'm totally ashamed and embarassed by this building which is as ugly as it comes. Which senile judge or Perm Sec approved the design in the first place?

3. the Esplanade - what is all the glass doing in the hot humid tropical climate of Singapore?

You know, the whole thing makes me wonder:
1. Why am I paying tax??????

2. Is this the start of a precipitous decline for Singapore??????????

bratpig SG

the esplanade was a mistake. they modelled it after a school in the states. however, it was later in the stage that they realised that the OTTV does not meet the requirement. hence the ugly spikes on top.

Profounder SG

It's simply NOT okay to make a billion dollar mistake.

Neither is it okay to make a $350 million mistake the IDA made.

And the multi-million dollar mistake LTA made with Nicoll Highway.

sbst275 SG

Then tell me how you are going to renew Orchard Rd?

bratpig SG

nobody say it was ok Laughing

but they cover mistakes very well. just look at the ridiculous amount of scholars they have. it was a good investment on their part Mr. Green

Profounder SG

Maybe build a giant SBS building and terminal for you?

Profounder SG

Maybe build a giant SBS building and terminal for you?

sbst275 SG

That one you go ask HDB... Clementi is build by HDB, Sengkang one is by F&N

raihanraihan SG

Yes they're real useless. Only know how to blindly ape the first world without thoroughly understanding the concepts. Perhaps it is because they're actually 3rd world ministers!

Profounder SG

And yah, I forgot to add IRAS.

Those people spent so much money building one of the 7th wonders of Singapore and came up with a crap myTax Portal system which is giving lots of tax-filers problems.

The reason they gave? The server has some teething problems and is slow because of the heavy load of people filing their tax. Now I feel like I'm in a 3rd world country except that saying that would be insulting some of the 3rd world countries where at least the civil servants don't sit in their nice air-conditioned buildings and collect fat pay cheques.

macjoe SG

And do you know how much budget the government set aside last and this year in going "e"?

http://www.mof.gov.sg/budget_2004/exp_overview/exp_over_section4.1.html

One would have expected faster, better service delivery but it was disappointing.

Cool

drawer SG

I also dont like the esplanade,some ppl praise that it looks unique n look like a "durian'.But the problem is........I HATE DURIAN!!!

dragg SG

but their salaries are OUT OF THE WORLD!!

kwlee SG

hmmm, so what is ur proposal to improve the situation profounder?

if not i guess, dun complain so much....

Laughing

commonsense SG

don't forget they are paid lots of $$ monthly to 'improve' situations and 'solve' problems, not to create more.

aCid_rAIn SG

LTA sux big time

Tuatau SG

Originally posted by drawer:
I also dont like the esplanade,some ppl praise that it looks unique n look like a "durian'.But the problem is........I HATE DURIAN!!!

It is unique. Uniquely ugly.

The Russians are even calling it "Singapore Fly Eyes".
http://www.podvodoi.ru/Photos/Sipadan2003/Singapore-FlyEyes.jpg

Profounder SG

I have only one thing to say to your comment: go join the PAP. You speak like a government spokesperson: oh, don't be an armchair critic. Singapore is what it is today because of people like you. Staid.

So the movie critic who can't make a movie does not have a right to slam a movie.

So the music critic who can't write songs does not have a right to slam a singer.

So the government critic has to right to voice his opinion because he's not involved in planning and execution.

And by the way, please don't assume I don't have any ideas or proposal. You have a right to reply but please, stay within the boundaries of intelligent, civilised debates instead of saying: "if not i guess, dun complain so much....".

robertteh SG

Very simple solutions to the problems: The government has been saying that there should be competitions and no free lunches. It opens the doors very wide to foreign contractors, suppliers, professionals and workers to compete against citizens for this same reason.

If any of the above-stated departments which are not in charge of security or critical responsibilities anyway can be handled equally well by firms in the private sectors, they should be outsourced to lower Singaporeans' costs of living and doing business. At the present moment, many of the officers are costly to maintain.

Dr. Vivian Balakrishnan was seen on TV saying that "civil service is a jack of all trades but initiator of none" Today this is still true. So non-initiative officers can be outsourced to private sector who will no doubt work with greater to benefit the citizens.

No free lunches to these departments from the people will be given just to keep them surviving at uncompetitive costs.

Tuatau SG

Originally posted by robertteh:
Dr. Vivian Balakrishnan was seen on TV saying that "civil service is a jack of all trades but initiator of none" Today this is still true. So non-initiative officers can be outsourced to private sector who will no doubt work with greater to benefit the citizens.

The government seems to be privatising as much as they can. Those offices that remain in government control could be due to national security concerns, or simply because they are not profitable enough to entice private players.