Give a reply

I find a common experience of sending an e-mail to a friend or to a business contact, and do not receive a reply. I know that they had received it, because they reply when a send a reminder or a follow up reminder. They do not reply because they do not know how to respond, or the request was not clear, or do not have the complete information. It is almost like talking to someone, who does not talk back - just kept silent. Is this the right way to respond? What is a better way?

Learning to use a tablet

We are accustomed to a keyboard and a mouse. The touchscreen on a tablet replaces both of these accessories. This is why the tablet (such as the iPad) is so popular for people on the move.

I used the iPad during my trip to Sri Lanka and Jakarta. I bought a local data card. I was able to serve the Internet and use Google maps. It is light and convenient. It was able to avoid the use of old accessories - that was troublesome to carry around.

I look forward to a system of wifi connection that allows the tablet to be used in many places, without the troublesome registration, login and payment. It should be as seemless as the use of the data card.

Immigration forms

When I enter most countries, I have to fill up an detailed immigration form. It contains a lot of information that are taken from my passport.

At the immigration counter, I have to submit my passport to be scanned. All the information are now collected through electronic means.

Why is it necessary for me to spend a lot of time to fill up the information into the immigration form?

I also have to fill up a custom declaration form. I suspect that the form is not being used.

These immigration requirements were created over 20 years ago, in the days before the the electronic scanning of passports. After new technology was introduced, they could be discontinued or modified, but this was not done. Why? Nobody cares. After all, the burden is on the public.

There are a few countries that have taken the simple but bold step to stop the use of the immigration form - Dubai and the European unions. Some other countries have simplified the form considerably, e.g. Australia.

Perhaps, it is time for Singapore to take up this issue with the Asean countries? A good step is to simplify the form, by removing the non-essential information.

Supply and demand for property

Many people in Singapore believed that property prices will never fall in Singapore, due to our limited land and strong economy. They should take into account another important factor - demand for the land. Right now, we are enjoying strong demand from foreigners working in Singapore. But this demand can fall, when there is a global recession. At that time, there will be an over-supply of property and prices will fall. When prices fall, it can take a long time to recover. http://www.cnbc.com//id/45477559

Ultrabook

I like the Ultrabook - as it is light and have a full keyboard. It could be better than the iPad. http://money.cnn.com/2011/11/28/technology/ultrabooks/index.htm?section=money_topstories&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+rss%2Fmoney_topstories+%28Top+Stories%29

Flexible and separate currency

Should a country have a separate currency that can be made flexible? My personal view is "yes". Here is an article that argue in favour of the same outcome.
http://newasiarepublic.com/?p=34890

Student concession fares on public transport

I watched the episode on the student concession fares with much interest. The poly students have asked to be given concession fares, similar to what was granted for junior college students. The disabled have also asked to be given the concessions. Even the Young PAP, which is the activist part of the party that forms the Government, has to speak at Speakers' Corner.

This episode highlights the fallacy of the Government in avoiding responsibility to govern. They prefer to let such matters be decided by the market. After privatizing the public transport, they decided that matters of fares and concessions should be decided by the public transport operators - or maybe the Public Transport Council has some say (I am not sure)!

The transport operators know the answer - maximize the profits, so they avoid having to give concessions, unless they have to. Their argument is that any concessions have to be borne by the full fare paying public, but this is not really true, as it can also be borne by reducing the shareholder's profits. This is really a political question - which cannot be dealt with by the free market. So, it is back to the Government to do the duty that they are elected to do.

I wish to extend this reasoning to many other sectors of our public life. We cannot let matters be left to the market. The Government has to step in and take the political decisions for our society, including setting laws and rules of proper behavior. If they fail in their duty, our society must surely decline.

Tan Kin Lian