Moving the World…Land Transport Authority

Changi Simei, Singapore, 27 Oct 2010

This year marks the 3^rd year of the Community Partnership Division, a Division in Land Transport Authority (LTA). In the last 3 years, the Division through its Community Partnership Officers had delivered many projects in partnership with the local grassroots organisations for the benefits of residents.

To be honest, the officer attached to Changi Simei, Mr Lim Sun Kiat, his immediate superior, Deputy Director Mr G Yuvaraj had to work the “guts” out to deliver projects to support the local grassroots leaders. New initiatives on transport, infrastructure, parking, street lights and any thing relating to the transport ministry are being surfaced at the monthly Citizens’ Consultative Committee (CCC) for follow up actions. It is marvelous of Mr Lim to meet our non stop requests. I must add that any requests from the CCC are thought through and those with hidden agenda masquerading as community projects are largely dropped with the residents being kept in the loop.

One suggestion which I think was not practicable  from a resident was to install more signalised pedestrians’ crossings to facilitate safer road crossing. Such suggestion if implemented would result in one pedestrian crossing at every hundred metres. It was justifiable from the pedestrians’ perspective but taken into the overall plan, such a suggestion hinders the smooth flow of traffic. It would also result in more motorists beating the red lights. Therefore there is a need for a balanced perspective where the CCC and LTA would sit to explore possibilities.  If this suggestion was implemented along Simei St 3 which already has 5 traffic lights, it will be one too many over a one km stretch of road. The Community Partnership Division also assist to sort out land ownership to facilitate the installation of street lamps on a footpath with heavy human traffic from Guan Soon area to the MRT station. The street lights not only brighten the place, it also provides residents with better security to their homes and individual walking alone home especially ladies.              

The past 3 years had been exciting and rewarding for grassroots leaders at Changi Simei. I hope the management at the Community Partnership Division also finds the new partnership equally rewarding although the grassroots leaders can at times be very demanding. Nonetheless, in the last 3 years, we were very focus on our vision and through the close partnership we kept up as a team to deliver projects to benefit and convenience to our residents.

Nevertheless, like a coin, there are two sides. We cannot guarantee a 100% satisfaction in projects that we have delivered. Some how, there would be some people who would be upset no matter what and how best we could mitigate implications. It is a real challenge but together with Mr Lim and the strong support of his colleagues at LTA, we are able to overcome the odds as a team.     

The CCC is now working with LTA to implement the cycling town project at Changi Simei which was announced a couple of months ago by LTA. Like Tampines and Pasir Ris, there are many residents who use bicycles as a mean of transportation. For their own safety, many choose to cycle on pedestrian path therefore subjecting pedestrians to risk. It is not uncommon to have heard about the rash and irresponsible cyclists. To protect the interests of pedestrians, a cycling path would serve its purpose well as there would be a clear delineation of usage. Henceforth, it would be illegal to cycle on pedestrians’ foot path.

The planning for a cycling track along Street 1 has been incorporated into the Neighbourhood Renewal Programme (NRP). Residents living from Blk 101 to Blk 139 had voted with 87% for the implementation of the NRP. The go ahead for the NRP has been given and NRP works are expected to start by early 2011 and would be completed in 2 years. Many residents including I are excited with the NRP.      

The CCC hopes to bring forward the cycling town project which is currently owned by LTA to be line with the NRP for the entire estate. This is to synchronise with the construction works in NRP and to minimise disruptions and imposing further inconveniences to residents. To implement the cycling town project independently may also be seen as poor co-ordinations between the NRP project and the cycling town project. We need both hands to generate a clap. We will try to facilitate the timelines of both projects which are owned by different ministries.

This evening, 27 Oct 2010 together with a couple of my fellow grassroots colleagues, we attended a sharing session at LTA HQ. The session was organised by the Community Partnership Division to update the grassroots leaders from the neighbourhood committees (NC). Changi Simei was represented by East View Garden NC, Melville Park NC, Sea Breeze NC and Sunbird-Apollo NC. Well, instead of the grassroots leaders thanking the LTA for a great job done and developing a people centred transport system, we were presented with a plaque as a token of appreciation for the contributions of the NCs to bring the best for the residents. We are appreciated the thoughtful gesture of LTA.

During the sharing session, 3 presentations were made. LTA presented the close collaborations with local grassroots leaders while the two NCs presented on the lessons learnt and how together with LTA resolved some of the ground issues especially parking in the private estates. Through these presentations, experiences were shared. It is like a Community of Practice which we exchanged notes on the way ahead. I have brought back some pointers from the sharing.

Overall, the Community Partnership Division has done well in the last 3 years to deserve my commendation. When it was started 3 years ago, I half suspected that it was another public relations exercise. The last 3 years have proven that the Division exists for a meaningful purpose to touch base with the ground and helping to move our world. It has fulfilled its mission. Well done…LTA and many good projects to come with this close partnership.

People Centric….Land Transport Authority

Changi Simei, Singapore, 11 April 2010……..I am writing this blog based on my personal experience with LTA and how LTA has evolved into a more people centric organisation.

 

Over the years, under the leadership of Mr Yam Ah Mee, Chief Executive (CE) of LTA, I have seen LTA moving from a bureaucratic position to a friendlier and  “people centric” organisation, more willing to open up, listen, modify and do what it right to benefit the community. This is a complete departure of what LTA uses to be.  My impression of a more people centric LTA is primarily built on LTA’s statements like  “transport is a basic need and we must ensure that everyone has access to it, the low-income groups, the elderly, wheelchair users, families with young children and pedestrians” and “at the same time, public transport is the most efficient means of transport and the LTA will endeavour to make it a choice mode”. Though these two statements were made by the CE some times ago, however, they were not policy statements nor statements that carried much weight to force a systemic change. Nonetheless, to me, these statements reflected the new thinking at LTA to find a “win-win” land transportation solutions through ground touch points.

 

The “ground up” approach to touch as many people as possible on land transport policies and its willingness to take in feedbacks is a “forward” strategy welcomed not only by grassroots leaders, even residents appreciate the approach on consultations. To do this, a new Community Partnership Division (CPD) was set up to beef up its presence on the ground. My impression is that the CPD has done an excellent job at the various touch points like grassroots leaders, residents, business owners etc. To further enhance its touch points, LTA also introduced a scheme known as “Friends of LTA” to encourage individuals to contribute ideas, suggestions and proposals to directly to LTA.  These initiatives boasted the overall efficiency and effectiveness of land transport policies, schemes and services and are testimonies of LTA working hard to fine tune its policies for the benefit of the community.   

 

I must qualify that willing to take in feedback is not tantamount to the implementation of all feedback received. Every feedback needs to be studied in details to derive and understand implications. Nonetheless, I give full marks to LTA for being rational, logical and defend its policy position doing what is right if feedback are one-sided benefiting the few. In Changi Simei, I am glad that many of our feedback were being implemented, one example was the installation of street lamps along a footpath to enhance the safety of residents.

 

The current “three ways” communications, between LTA, grassroots leaders and concerned stakeholders (residents, businesses) have certainly provided for a better atmosphere for quality conversations and hence foster better relationships and these resulted in smoother implementation of the policies and enhancement to infrastructures.  Unlike the past, the “no” for an answer usually did not come with any official explanation. For “no” for an answer in the current context, the grassroots leaders and the concerned stakeholders were engaged by LTA. We may still be unhappy but at least we know the reason why. There are always advocates and detractors in any initiatives who support or against any initiatives as each one of us standing at different positions to see an issue. Therefore pleasing everyone will eventually please no one. Doing what is right will need to take precedence over doing what is popular.   

 

As an individual, I fully support and endorse the people centric LTA. I appreciate the sharing of the “big picture” by LTA in dialogues and visits. It is something that I treasure and will turn up as long as my personal schedule permits. I will continue to engage LTA in the framework of safety for all road users and a smoother rides. The photographs on the left were taken during a recent dialogue session.        

 

At Changi Simei, we are blessed with one LTA officer, Mr Lim Sun Kiat who is dedicated and work hard on the ground to resolve transport issues. At the monthly Citizens’ Consultative Committee (CCC) meeting, Mr Lim would report on the progress of work done on all transport issues surfaced by the CCC or residents. At each meeting, Mr Lim would also take back new suggestions from grassroots leaders and other ad hoc suggestions and issues through emails from residents as he practises the “no wrong door” policy. Mr Lim Sun Kiat adds value and make a difference during meetings and other conversations. He is a valuable resource person to the CCC and together with his superiors, Mr Chandrasekar, Director Traffic and Community Partnership and Mr G Yuvaraj, DD Community Partnership South East (in photo on the above left), they are shining living examples of what LTA can be and what LTA can do to deliver the best to benefit the majority in the community.  Its tag line of LTA……Innovating Singapore’s Land Transport System and I strongly believe.    

 

Besides the ground works  www.lta.gov.sg/corp_info/lt_gallery.htm the public can also visit the LTA’s gallery for a glimpse on the journey of land transport in Singapore in 6 thematic areas. The last exhibit area on vision and aspirations is interesting which we hope to arrive. I have visited the gallery and it is worth the time spent.

 

 

 

 

Honoured as Star Ambassador

Changi Simei, Singapore, 7 April 2010……..Frankly, I have not expected to be the focal point of media attention for winning the Star Ambassador Award during the Land Transport Excellence Awards Ceremony held at Ritz Carlton on 31 March 2010. With so many distinct companies with their showcase projects and and individual nominations in 14 award categories, it was a pleasant surprise to me that my contributions were recognised.  

 

I have considered myself as an ordinary folk doing an ordinary job which I have volunteered for and I am doing it to the best of my ability. As a grassroots leaders and Chairman of Changi Simei Citizens’ Consultative Committee (CCC), I have a mission in my mind, “to serve and not be served by the community”. Therefore, I have not expected or dreamt of recognitions or special mentions on my grassroots works in any forms. Nonetheless, I would like to thank residents and any individual whom have taken cognisance of my grassroots works related to land transport issues and have nominated me to compete with others for the award. In addition, my appreciation to the panel of judges who have spent time reviewing the works of all shortlisted nominees for the Star Ambassador Award. I also want to single out LTA for tolerating my persistence and for reviewing my feedback.  Through the Community Partnership Division, I have received much of their backend support in my engagements with residents. I too have learnt a great deal from the staff from LTA.  Thank you.

 

The Star Ambassador is awarded to recognises one grassroots leader who has played pivotal role in helping LTA better engage and foster closer relationships with the community so as to create a better understanding of land transport policies and initiatives. I am honoured and yet humbled by the recognition given through the award. The winning of the sole Star Ambassador Award though is an individual award but back in my mind I know I am not walking alone (Sound familiar? “You’ll never walk alone”) and no man is an island. I could not have done better if not for the encouragements and contributions of my other grassroots leaders colleagues. They too have collectively worked hard to support my works on land transport issues. With their efforts and endorsements and strong support, in fact they have sent me on stage to receive the award from the Minister of Transports. For all the support and more importantly believing in my leadership, they deserve my salute.         

 

In the last couple of days, I have received congratulatory messages in the form of emails or sms from grassroots leaders, friends and former colleagues. One particular sms was interesting. It read, “I marvel at your energy for the volunteer works despite your heavy full time work. Not many of us can measure up to you for that”. My answer to the comment was “it is passion and belief that drives me on”. Yes, the passion generates much of my energy in my grassroots works despite my full time second career which is also another passion of mine. My belief that I can still be useful to touch others and make the difference also provide the impetus to me to do what is right. Although I may be ageing physically, a natural phenomenon beyond my control but I try to keep my mind young to enjoy what I am currently doing and do it well to serve the community.

 

Since being given the award, I received my first feedback from my sister who congratulated me. At the same time she also provided feedback to me since I am the ambassador of LTA. Though she is not a resident in Changi Simei, I guess the title of ambassadorship mean more residents across the country could engage me. I am more than happy to engage any one.  

 

My wife though not involved in any grassroots works but her understanding of my involvement in the community and her devotion to the family have enabled me to pursue both my passions. Although I am only home in the late evening very frequently and working through the early morning replying to emails and other works, she has supported what I am doing. My award is also attributed to her indirect contributions and I appreciate her patience on me.    

 

It’s time to resume my grassroots works again after receiving the accolade from LTA and the one week of euphoria. Starting the engine now.