Singapore 'should nurture wealth creators, not just wealth managers'

[Temperament]

I have another example to show "......We tend to "follow" other people but not strike out a path......"

According to a news report, back in 1987, the company tasked to design and manufacture components of the MRT system had proposed an improved new design rail claw of the third rail system that will ensure that claws would not jump out, even under severe vibration.

As the new design has not been in service, MRTC was naturally "nervous about introducing" it into the system and felt it was "better not to" change the claw design.

The new design has since been used in other metro systems like in Taipei, with no failures reported.

Morale of the story is, there is less risk to follow others and be proven wrong, then to be the first user and be proven right.

Let's look at a different prepective of the issue.

If history went into different route, MRTC had chosen the new design, and the new design did prevented the claw from jump out, but causing new problem(s) which gave a major disruption to rail system.

The comment will change to "MRTC has chosen a un-tested design over a proven one, that causing a major disruption. It is a major lapse of professionalism and responsibility to ensure a reliable rail system"

I had worked in mission critical projects, which reliability is highly value over "innovation". Only after a "innovation" be proven either in Lab or real operation, then the "innovation" will be introduced with great caution.

NSEWL is in operation more than 20 years before the problem arises. I do not familiar with Taipei system, i assume it is much newer than NSEWL.

I would like to share another view. MRTC's conservative design approach is meeting the commuters expectation i.e. low tolerant on fault. They are expecting near-perfect rail system i.e. 2 (as far as i remember?) major discruptions over 20 years of continuous operation is consider a major fault.

My 2 cts.

Well , NSEWL has been in operation for > then 20 years is true. That also means NSEWL has been designed for a population of maybe 3-3.5 million people. What's our population now? 4.5 to 5.5 million? So just imagine your car is designed for 4 passengers and a driver. But due to your unplanned family "explosion" you have to drive 5 or 6 passengers around. So not because of car's age alone, your car will break down again and again. So will be our SMRT. i think some of our newer lines is breaking down for ............??? due to overloading or what...??? Not so sure due to aged assets alone??? IMHO