Sunday, August 26, 2007

I refer to the article titled “Competitors snapping up senior CAAS staff” from The Straits Times, August 18 2007 regarding airport talent being sought after in the aviation industry.

Recently, global ‘head-hunters’ have been scouting for airport staff, reeling in Changi Airport staff. The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore, or CAAS, has lost about 10 senior and management staff, including the former head of development and engineering, to competitors in India, the Middle East, Europe and the United States.

According to a CAAS spokesman, “given the buoyant global aviation scene, the global search for aviation-related talent is expected to intensify.” While Singapore has always maintained her reputation as having one of the finest airports in the world, it is very evident that others are catching up. Engineers and other airport staff are in high demand, and in order to retain her airport staff, Singapore has to remain competitive. Indeed, about two-thirds of CAAS staff has received salary increments from 3-5% in April. Apparently, this was not enough for some. Although Singapore has a head start in the industry, in order to retain and employ staff, it will have to spend more on wages, and loss of staff is something they will have to accept. Countries like China and India have grown tremendously recently, and with such potential, a lot of investment will be put into these countries. What Singapore, and other countries and corporations that already have a sizable stake in the industry, has to do is to make themselves relevant in today’s industry full of rising powers.

However, it is not all bad news for CAAS. As its spokesman puts it, “this is evidence that CAAS is recognised internationally as a world-class organisation and our people are of value to the international industry.” It will take some effort for the new powers to surpass the current aviation giants, and what better way is there than to recruit the elite staff? The fact that aviation companies internationally seek talent from Singapore reveals a lot about Singapore’s position in today’s aviation industry. While we still have to retain these talents, we are training and building up quite a pool of talents in our field. As our Prime minister has said, we need talents in Singapore for us to remain competitive worldwide. Evidently, we are capable of providing and training our own talents, so much so that other countries are trying to reel them in. While we have to remember to maintain our position in this competitive era, we can take pride in the knowledge that we are among the forefront of the aviation industry.

What all this means for the talents themselves, is that they are highly valued and needed in today’s world and they can expect to find competitive offers. They have indeed benefited from their training and education, and the as the aviation industry expands, they can expect to see their worth expanding along with it. To these aviation staff, I congratulate you on selecting the right career choice, however, careers are not everything. Though you may get a lucrative job offer say, in Europe, there are other factors to consider besides wages, such as family. The best choice is often to stay in Singapore with your friends and family.

As with all highly competitive industries, the party who benefits most is the consumer. What we, the consumers, can expect from this booming aviation industry is greater service for lower cost.

Blogged @ 9:31 PM

I refer to the article titled “Beijing bans media from bridge collapse site”, from The Straits Times, august 18 2007.

The article describes the collapse of a bridge in Shanxi province, China, possibly due to a truck overloaded with iron powder. What made this accident worse was the fact that Chinese authorities have banned state media from reporting on the collapse, with “local officials punching journalists and chasing them from the scene”. The bridge was under construction at the time of the collapse, which left at least 47 people dead, and making it ‘one of the worst building accidents in China in recent years’.

This article reveals several problems, not the least of which is the one of media coverage. The state media were “ordered not to send reporters there or gather news…but to rely solely on reports by the government’s Xinhua news agency.” By restricting the information the public get about important events, such as this accident, the officials are essentially depriving the public of information on events. To make things worse, local officials are also reputed to be hostile to reporters, whose duty is to bring information to the public. Even if the issue is sensitive, reporters have an obligation to report on them for the public; and the government has no right to deny the public such information.

The accident has also raised questions about ‘shoddy building’ and corruption among officials and contractors. By maintaining a stranglehold on the information coming through to the public, the officials have only fuelled these suspicions. The government is supposed to be the shepherd of the public, and in times of disaster, instead of helping the situation, the shepherd instead covers up the actual extent of the damage. What should have been done, instead of driving off the reporters and journalists with aggressive force, was instead to inform these journalists of certain constraints the officials or locals face, and to kindly ask them to report merely on the vital information, and not to speculate on certain issues. At most, the government should examine the reports or articles written and inform the press of what should be changed before they are published.

The press still has a job to deliver news to the public, not just for China, but to the international community, and by resorting to assaulting the press, they have only destroyed the “responsible, concerned image China’s leadership has tried to portray publicly in the wake of the accident”. The government might have some constraints regarding the disaster, and there is nothing wrong with having the government’s news agency broadcast reports from the government regarding the disaster; but denying the information to the other state media, and attacking them was a really big mistake. Trust takes a long time to build, but can be lost in an instant. The government has a responsibility to the people, and has to have the people’s trust in order to function. By taking such actions, they have really shaken the trust the people have in them. While the Central Propaganda Department has a job to do as well, and has the power to issue such bans, they should accommodate the press, and at the least explain the reasons behind issuing the ban.

Blogged @ 3:29 AM

Saturday, May 19, 2007

I refer to the article titled “Forget NY-300 apply for Tisch film course in S’pore”, from The Straits Times March 31 2007.

Although these 300 students form America, Latin America, Europe, China, India and Singapore could have applied to join the Tisch School of the Arts in New York, they have instead chosen to apply for the school’s new campus here in Singapore. The fees for the school are about $55000 a year (the same as that in New York) for a three-year course.

Mr. Tintori, the chairman of Tisch’s graduate Film Programme, was confident that this new campus would draw students, since he feels that Singapore has much to offer them. He feels that Singapore is like New York in many ways, including the fact that both are melting pots. There are many cultures that blend together to form the Singapore culture, making it a rich and vibrant environment for prospective filmmakers. This offers Tisch Students a ‘distinct Asian experience’ with Singapore’s strategic location, mix of various cultures, and ‘burgeoning arts scene’. As such, the students are not at all losing out when applying to the Singapore campus, and instead have a completely unique experience that that offered in New York. They are provided a very rich environment for a filmmaking, with a distinctive Asian flair.

Singapore has much to benefit from this new campus too. The strong response is a sure sign of ‘Singapore’s growing status as a key learning and knowledge node.’ This being the first-ever branch of the Tisch School is a great boost to Singapore’s campaign to attract specialised institutions. With this world famous film institution (whose famous alumni include directors Oliver Stone, Ang Lee and M. Night Syamalan) now a part of Singapore’s educational and arts scene, Singapore’s reputation as an arts and education hub would have increased. In addition, when the programme gets underway, the students would be producing about 300 films a year. That’s a staggering amount of films of Singapore that would be screen around the world in film festivals and art programs. In Mr. Tintori’s words, “Can you imagine the sort of visibility it will give Singapore?”

For the students of Singapore who are interested in filming as a career, this is also a great opportunity. They can now pursue their passion here in their home, and once the new campus is established, it would be easier to make a name for themselves. As the Singapore arts scene grows larger and more vibrant, and Singapore’s global recognition increases, it would benefit them greater, with a conducive environment for creativity to flow, and the education to allow them to do so. This will not only benefit those interested in the film aspect of arts though, the films made by the students will also showcase the Singapore culture and art.

Blogged @ 9:35 PM

Tuesday, May 08, 2007

I refer to the article titled ”Navy’s new high-tech frigates ‘vital to SAF’”, from The Sunday Times May 6 2007.

According to the article, the Navy has 6 new frigates that will play important roles in the integrated SAF. The new Naval frigates are armed with the latest technologies, including modern sensors and advanced computing systems. These frigates will provide surveillance and defense over a wide area spanning hundreds of kilometers, even extending into the air.

The new plan by the SAF, coined the ‘third-generation Singapore Armed Forces’ or the 3G SAF, is to make the military based more on a technologically advanced force, and relying less on soldiers. This is a great plan, since it could potentially save lives while ensuring Singapore’s safety. As technology advances, our lives are improved tremendously. Since we can now utilize high-tech military forces for our defense, we need not rely on human lives to defend our country. Even though these new and advanced frigates may cost a lot of money, it is worth it when we can save the lives of our men and women in the Navy. Also, with the higher level of technology, there will be less danger to our soldiers risking their lives for our defense. Any threat that may come will be dealt with swiftly and decisively. The frigates will also serve to deter any terrorist or hostile acts against Singapore, knowing that the odds of getting away and succeeding will be very low, due to the integrated and advanced military. This psychological barrier is invaluable, since it can deter any terrorist attacks without a single shot being fired. Thus, I fully agree to this new move to integrate high levels of technology into the Singapore military.

The commissioning of the frigates also serves to remind us of the importance of maritime security. With the threat of terrorism ever present, we must always remain vigilant. Since the time Singapore was founded, we have always depended upon trade for our economy. And now, with the booming economies of neighbouring countries like China and India, these trade routes are highly valuable and important. The Straits of Malacca is vital, since we depend on it not only for trade but also as sea lines of communication. If these areas are not securely defended, any enemy can easily cripple Singapore’s economy. The six frigates that will be commissioned over the next two years will adequately defend this vital part of our nation. It also reminds everyone that although Singapore seems like a safe place, everyone must do his or her part to ensure that this peaceful way of life remains this way. Especially since an attempted terrorist bombing has occurred in our nation already, when the JI attempted to bomb an MRT station. It could be said that the frigates stand vigil in our waters while remaining in the hearts of all Singaporeans, reminding them to always be vigilant.

Blogged @ 5:40 AM

Tuesday, February 27, 2007

I refer to the article titled “Foreign students post strong 0-level showing” on The straits Times February 10 2007.
As the title suggests, the foreign students here in Singapore are doing exceptionally well in the O-level examinations. In fact, about half of the students with nine A1s were not from Singapore. The article also explores the views of various parties regarding this, as well as some of the strategies adopted by these students for studying.
While their teachers think they deserved it, and it certainly seemed like these foreign students have earned it; the local students are worried they might ‘lose out’ to these students. Although I can understand why the locals are concerned that they are losing out their spots in local polytechnics or junior colleges to these ‘foreigners’, every cloud has a silver lining. With this harsh competition set, there is little students can do except to strive and work harder to keep their places in the schools, which would mean that the competition will push many to do their best. However, many are complaining about the stress that students have to face these days. Now students not only have to compete among themselves, they have to work against students from other countries as well. This, in fact, is the harsh reality of modern society. With globalization and commercialization, the world has become a tougher environment to survive in. And this education system conditions our students for the real world, where competition is fierce and the only way to advance is through hard work. It is better that the students are exposed to these conditions now, before they become lost when they step out into the commercial world is what I feel. Another question comes to mind while reading the article. How is it that students from China ‘with barely a Primary 4 foundation in English’ (from the article) are able to best students who have studied English for 10 years? Apparently, it would be because of their mentality and spirit. Before coming to Singapore, they knew beforehand that school life here would be really tough. They were at a disadvantage since they may not know English very well; therefore, they had to make up for it through their determination and hard work. However, as can be seen from the article, these students weren’t just ‘muggers’. Besides studying hard, they had to study smart. A student interviewed by the Straits Times recounts how she memorized a dictionary to brush up on her English, to no avail. She decided to change tactics and started reading the classics. Eventually, it paid off. Instead of just competing with them, it would be beneficial for local students to learn from them. If we can adopt their motivated and indomitable spirit, we will have benefited from this competition, instead of losing out. Which brings me back to my first point, and perhaps the most important lesson I have learnt from the article, that attitude makes all the difference. Instead of wallowing in what seems to be a disadvantageous situation, why not turn it around to your advantage?
Blogged @ 5:14 AM

Wednesday, February 21, 2007

Blogged @ 5:24 AM