Challenge March - April 2013

40
The game plan for a SHARING CITY How does collaborative consumption help to build a more trusting Singapore? MARCH / APRIL 2013 HERE’S THE PEPPER THAT YOU ASKED FOR! THANKS!

description

How does collaborative consumption help to build a trusting Singapore

Transcript of Challenge March - April 2013

Page 1: Challenge March - April 2013

The game plan for a SHARING CITY

How does collaborative consumption help to build a more trusting Singapore?

MARCH / APRIL 2013

HERE’S THE PEPPER THAT

YOU ASKED FOR!

THANKS!

Page 2: Challenge March - April 2013

Impress your boss (and that cute co-worker) with your

impeccable P’s and Q’s. Reject nauseating status updates

from others without losing their friendship. All these and more in our 8-page manual

on perfecting your social skills. Now if you would just

say “please”…

19 -26page guide to etiquette

March/April 2013

Black Tie Seen at: Ceremonial balls, gala dinners, and weddings (if you’re the one getting hitched, or are playing best man or maid-of-honour.).

For women: A floor-sweeping evening gown, your dressiest cocktail dress or Little Black Dress.

For men: Black tuxedo jacket, bow tie, matching pants and a white shirt.

NAILTHE LOOK FOR ANY OCCASION

WHAT IF THEDRESS CODE IS

“ANIMAL MAGNETISM”?

SMALL TALK FOR INTROVERTS

Cocktail Seen at: Company D&Ds, weddings (if you’re a guest).

For women: A short dress of a tasteful length, usually at or slightly above the knee.

For men: A dark suit, dress shirt in white or a muted colour, and necktie.

When in doubt, ask what the organiser’s planning to wear. If you’re coming straight from work and don’t have time to change,

incorporate just one element of the dress theme into your workday outfit – for instance, leopard

print heels paired with a black sheath dress.

Three fail-safe ways to survive a tête-à-tête with a stranger.

Business Casual Seen at: Work-related functions like networking events.

For women: A well-fitted jacket,

sheath dress or a blouse with tapered pants. Stick to black, white and muted colours.

For men: Dark business suit. Or in a more relaxed setting – sports jacket or blazer, dress shirt, slacks or khakis.

Ask questions.Find out more about your new acquaintance. Don’t be afraid to reveal what you don’t know.

Listen for cues. If your dinner companion is dropping knowledgeable comments about the food, ask if she cooks or where her favourite restaurants are. This could spark off a separate line of conversation.

Read. Take five minutes beforehand to skim through the top news of the day, or check out the latest movie listings. These can be inserted casually into conversations – “I really want to catch Great Expectations next week. Looks great, doesn’t it?”.

Much of today’s formal etiquette dates back to the French royal court in the 17th and 18th centuries. A popular story is that the word “etiquette” came about after Louis XIV’s gardener put up signs or “etiquets” to instruct aristocrats not to trample through the gardens. Later on, “etiquets” was used to describe the tickets given out at court functions with instructions on where to stand or how to carry oneself.

DID YOU KNOW?

ETIQUETS

MEOW

PULLOUT

VIEWPOINTS02 INBOX Your views on the Jan/Feb issue of Challenge

03 YOUR SAY HOW WILL YOU LIVE 2013? Life goes on after the Mayan Doomsday. How do you plan to make yours count?

18 THINKING ALOUD GIVING STARTS WITH AWARENESS Lawyer Adrian Tan on encouraging pro bono work in Singapore

27 LETTERS TO A YOUNG PUBLIC OFFICER BE NIMBLE YET STEADFAST Be quick to respond to changing times but stay true to your values, says Mr Khoo Boon Hui, the Home Affairs Ministry’s Senior Deputy Secretary (Development)

28 A CUPPA WITH… “GOOD PLANNING IS NOT JUST ABOUT NOW” CEO of the URA Ng Lang shares about the tricky task of land planning and why he is always in white

REST & RELAX

19 THE CHALLENGE PULLOUT MIND YOUR MANNERS! 8 pages to hone your social skills

40 LIFE.STYLE HOMING IN ON CREATIVITY Welcome to the unique cribs of public officers

44 THE IRREVERENT LAST PAGE $IGNS OF FEAR How paranoid are you when it comes to receiving external favours or gifts?

COVER STORY08 THE GAME PLAN FOR A SHARING CITY Is collaborative consumption the key to a kinder, more trusting Singapore?

FEATURES05 THE ART OF AGILITY We catch up with the IDA team tasked to fast-forward IT projects

14 MAKING A SUSTAINABLE COMEBACK Malmö’s Mayor Ilmar Reepalu on how the flourishing eco city came about

17 HAVING FUN WITH A NATIONAL OBSESSION Artists reinterpret national campaigns that are part and parcel of the Singaporean life

31 “SINGAPORE CAN THINK A BIT MORE CRAZILY” Italian Carlo Ratti, known for his innovative architectural works, challenges us to think out of the box too

34 DETECTIVES IN DISGUISE Part 3 of the Unsung Heroes series: Meet the team of Sherlock Holmeses from the Housing and Development Board

36 THE INSIDE SCOOP Inmates on the Singapore Prison Service’s News Behind Bars programme try their hand at producing news

38 HE’S NO QUACK An Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority officer shares with Challenge his genuine passion for inspecting live poultry imports

HIGHLIGHTS04 NEWS FROM THE SERVICE

05

28

17

40

19

31

Page 3: Challenge March - April 2013

EditorTan Hui Min

As I pen this note, the talk of the town is whether or not Singapore can accommodate 6.9 million residents and remain liveable. Not surprising, then, that when Challenge spoke with Urban Redevelopment Authority Chief Executive Officer Ng Lang for this issue’s A Cuppa With..., the man who helms the agency that “budgets land” defined liveability by two factors now central to the debate – economic competitiveness and the ability of individuals to live meaningful lives. The two seem inversely linked: more manpower is needed for our GDP growth, but the influx of foreigners that it entails may compromise Singaporeans’ ability to live out their aspirations.

Elsewhere, however, both have found a happy co-existence in many cities which are not just liveable but loveable too (see Challenge Jan/Feb 2011 cover story), and the idealist in me does hope that despite a higher population density, Singapore can be a place that people have a strong attachment to. Which leads to the question, what gives people meaning in life? While the answers are diverse, one commonality, I would hazard, is our relationships.

Perhaps that ’s why there’s been much talk about reviving the kampung spirit. Although I’ve never lived in a village, I did once belong to a “tribe” of foreign students. As a transient community short on resources (we were students!), our “rituals” centred on sharing. Initiations involved departing “villagers” passing on belongings to the newly arrived, and those with cars generously making their vehicles available for the community ’s purposes, such as moving house.

Unknowingly, we were embracing what has now been termed “collaborative consumption”, one of the “10 Ideas That Will Change the World” mentioned by TIME magazine in 2011 and the subject of this issue’s cover story (see The Game Plan for a Sharing City). Obvious benefits included cost savings and greener living. But more meaningful were the trust and sense of shared responsibility fostered as each “generation” of students cared for the objects entrusted to them, to leave them for the subsequent “generation”.

So if Malmö could forge a reputation as a vibrant eco city in less than 20 years (see Making a Sustainable Comeback), perhaps

come 2030, Singapore could too gain renown, this time for its culture of sharing.

What gives people meaning in life? While the answers are diverse, one commonality, I would hazard, is our relationships.

The “Singapore Kampung”

Page 4: Challenge March - April 2013

PublisherPS21 Office, Public Service Division, Prime Minister’s Office100 High Street, #07-01 The TreasurySingapore 179434 Email : [email protected] : www.challenge.gov.sg

For enquiries or feedback on Challenge, please write to the Challenge Editorial Team at [email protected].

Editorial Advisor Tay Choon Hong Editor Tan Hui MinAssistant Editors Kaira Peh & Christopher TeoEditorial Assistant Diana Lee

Tuber Productions Pte Ltd298 River Valley Road Level 2Singapore 238339Tel : 6836-4030Fax : 6836-4029Email : [email protected] Web : www.tuberproductions.com

ManagementDirector Lee Han ShihProject Director Liew Wei Ping

EditorialEditor-in-chiefBridgette See Contributing Editor Chen JingtingSub-editorBernice TangStaff WriterSiti Maziah MasramliContributors Fiona Liaw, Jamie Ee, Lisa Twang, Richard Hartung & Wong Sher MaineInternHeng Yishi

CreativeArt DirectorYip Siew FeiGraphic DesignersNg Shi Wei & Ryan Ong

Contributing Photog raphers John Heng (www.daphotographer.com)Justin Loh (shininghead.com)Norman Ng (www.normanng.com)Zakaria Zainal (zakariazainal.com)

Challenge is published bimonthly by Tuber Productions Pte Ltd (Registration No: 200703697K) for PS21 Office, Public Service Division, Prime Minister’s Office. Copyright of the materials contained in this magazine belongs to PS21 Office. Nothing in here shall be reproduced in whole or in part without prior written consent of PS21 Office. Views expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of PS21 Office or Tuber Productions Pte Ltd and no liabilities shall be attached there to. All rights reserved. All information correct at time of printing.

Printed by KHL Printing Co Pte Ltd (Registration No: 197801823M) 57 Loyang Drive Singapore 508968

The future belongs to those who prepare for it today. – Malcolm X

JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2013

BEST GOVERNMENT PUBLICATION

(SILVER)Magnum Opus Awards 2012

Challenge is a good read – way better than what I remember from several years back!

Jill WongCLC

Challenge has been a great piece of reading material since its revamp.Thanks for the efforts.

Abigail YeoNCSS

Love your Pullout issue on The Generation Gap – you’re spot on about the differences! This is one issue I must show to my bosses.

Estelle LowCGH

INBOXINBOX

Insider’s TakeAre You Being Tested?

Read on to learn some ways to try and

maintain as much peace in your work life as

possible. http://bit.ly/peaceinworklife

You are CreativeReading Absurdity Improves Learning

Do you know that reading absurdity

offers mind-boosting benefits?

http://bit.ly/readingabsurdity

You are CreativeThe Other Side of

CreativityIf you find yourself

frequently stumped at work, this test might

just be the answer to kick-start your creative juices.

http://bit.ly/dunckerproblem

Duck and CoverLove in a Red Packet

Jonson’s romantic odyssey starts in a shiny

red packet.http://bit.ly/loveredpacket

GO DIGITALExclusively on Challenge Online at www.challenge.gov.sg

To scan QR codes, please download any free QR code reader app available on iTunes Store and Google Play.

Challenge Jan/Feb 2013 has an interesting “Snakes & Ladders” or rather, “Spaceships & Comets” game on the work of a futurist. Square 44 reads: “Circulate what you think is a cutting-edge article, but everyone already read it yesterday. Go back to [square] 35”. Initially I thought it might unintentionally cause some officers to be afraid to speak up or share information. But on second thoughts, I think: “It is already very nice to ‘Go back to 35’. It could have been ‘Go to Jail’!”

Ernest LeeIRAS

Now available

on iPad

Page 5: Challenge March - April 2013

Congratulations Vimalathacheni! Thanks for inspiring us with your story. Enjoy life in one of Singapore’s most beautiful spaces with a one-year adult pass to Gardens By The Bay and tickets to its attractions worth $93!

Vimalathacheni d/o R GopalanSPS

Seth Godin, author and marketing guru, once said: “Instead of wondering when your next vacation is, maybe you should set up a life you don’t need to escape from.” (It’s another way of saying: “I used up all my leave from 2012.”)

Jackson NeoDOS

My wish for 2013 is for all mankind to care for animals and nature as much as they care for themselves and their families. Mahatma Gandhi said, “A country or civilisation can be judged by the way it treats its animals.” If all governments care for animals and nature as much as they care for their country’s economy, the world will be a wonderful place to live in.

Nirmala d/o NarayanasamyNLB

Goal No. 1: Real isation. Realising a new strength within me, ranging from attaining professional qualifications to music/sport/arts competency.

Goal No. 2: Personal Groom-ing. Discovering a whole new fashion sense for the new year.

Daren TanAGO

Take on a new sportHug my kids dailyAlways be contentedNever lose hopeKeep on learningFind 12 good books and read themUse my resources wiselyLive my everyday to the fullest!

Wong Pei ShiIRAS

“Look at life through the windshield, not the rear-view mirror.” This quote best describes my experiences in 2012 and goals for 2013. Despite going through the passing on of a sibling and other challenging situations, 2012 was a blessed year for me. It taught me one important value in life – life is fragile; never take things for granted. I am looking through the “windshield mirror” at 2013! I have started going for walks – I want to make sure I keep a healthy lifestyle. I need to complete my 10 Workforce Skills Qualifications modules by year-end. It has been many years since I last travelled and I would like to do so this year. Having made it past the

Mayan Doomsday, Challenge asked readers to share how they would make their 2013 count.

03Your Say

Page 6: Challenge March - April 2013

COMING UP...NEWSfrom theSERVICE

’TIS THE SEASON TO BE TAX-SAVVY

It is tax-filing time, but there’s no need to panic. Filing is no hassle if you have received the No-Filing Service letter or if your employer is on the Auto-Inclusion Scheme. Just remember to file by April 18, 2013, and file early! Key in your mobile number at myTax Portal to receive timely updates and reminders on tax matters. mytax.iras.gov.sg/

STEPPING INTO BUSINESS ANALYTICS (BA)So you have heard about data ana-lytics and its wonders. Now you can learn how to put it to use at work! As part of the BAsis Programme, the Ministry Of Finance and the Infocomm Development Authority are jointly organising a half-day Experiential Learning Workshop on March 28. Participants get to analyse actual government datasets using simple analytics tools under the guidance of professional train-ers. Learn how simple analytics can provide interesting and insightful solutions for your agency.www.facebook.com/BAsisProgramme

SINGAPORE WORLD WATER DAY 2013World Water Day on March 16 celebrates the International Year of Water Cooperation by focusing on the collaborative effort for water conservation. Join community-led activities at any of the five Active, Beautiful, Clean Waters sites: • Marina Barrage (main venue)• Jurong Lake• Kallang River @ Bishan – Ang Mo Kio Park• Lorong Halus Wetland• Lower Seletar Reservoirwww.singaporeworldwaterday.com

SINGAPORE MARITIME WEEK (SMW) 2013The annual SMW (April 7-12) organised by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore will gather the international maritime community in Singapore to celebrate all things maritime. Before that, a public exhibition held at Plaza Singapura from April 1 to 7 will provide an inside look at Maritime Singapore and showcase winning entries from a T-shirt design competition. Sign up online to participate in the Amazing Maritime Adventure contest on April 7. www.smw.sg

MOE ExCEL FestParents, catch up on the latest educational developments at this year’s MOE ExCEL Fest on April 6. Besides visiting the 55 booths set up by schools, you can sign up for over 95 sharing sessions and 25 seminars conducted by leading educators. Topics range from creative strategies to support your child at home to parenting tips. Free admission and shuttle bus services. www.excelfest.com

HighlightsHighlights04

Page 7: Challenge March - April 2013

Though the waterfall method has its merits, it is more time-consuming – agencies have to determine all the requirements for their system, call for a tender and then hand the speci-fications over to an external software development team to implement the project.

Nowadays, more time-efficient solutions are needed. “In today’s environment, everybody wants things yesterday,” says the IDA’s Assistant Chief Executive and Government Chief Information Officer James Kang. “Now, we cannot wait a year for a programme to be rolled out, so the agile approach becomes very appropriate.”

The 14-man team, the Citizen Engagement Technology Division under the IDA’s e-Government Group, consists of

WHEN THE NATIONAL LIBRARY BOARD (NLB) had an idea to use social media to engage the public in its book-buying decisions last April, it approached an “agile” team in the Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore (IDA) to develop and test out a microsite prototype.

With feedback from the NLB and using the agile software development method, the IDA team quickly designed and developed the “Suggest A Book” microsite, which allows the public to suggest and vote for books they want in the library. It went live within three weeks.

Had the microsite been set up with the usual waterfall soft-ware development method used by government agencies, it might have taken up to six months to launch.

Mark Lim Assistant Director

Lu Shanshan Consultant

Art AgilityofThe

Text by Jamie Ee Photos by John Heng

James Kang Assistant Chief

Executive

Public off icers show their moves in developing swift and effective IT solutions. Take that, slowpokes!

Page 8: Challenge March - April 2013

developers, user experience designers and gamification experts. Since February last year, they have been giving talks to agencies and collaborating with them on using the agile method to develop social media tools and mobile applica-tions – the new frontier in government-citizen relations.

So far they have created six applications for various agencies, with the average turnaround time being two to three months. Besides “Suggest A Book”, the team also used the same approach to develop the platform and mobile applica-tion of the NLB’s “Singapore Memory Project” – an initiative to crowdsource stories of Singapore from the public. A further seven to eight projects with other agencies are in the pipeline.

Fail early and safelyThe agile method, which aims to develop a product quickly with real-

time feedback, is increasingly the pre-ferred approach in view of today’s fast-changing technology landscape.

Contrast it with the traditional waterfall method – the requirements are usually established at the beginning, making changes down the road difficult.

A lengthy development process also ensues as officers spend large amounts of time defining the specifications to avoid making mistakes and paying for changes later. But such a “scared and kiasu” attitude could backfire. “They end up putting in a lot of specifications, just in case they miss out anything, which leads to wastage of resources in building more than what is actually required,” says Mr Kang.

With the agile method, public officers need not stress themselves out getting things perfect right from the start. In-

stead, they can improve upon the project as prototypes are rolled out iteratively and ideas can be tested on a smaller scale before reaching the public , giving public officers in charge of the project the assurance to “fail early and safely”. Mr Mark Lim, Assistant Director of the Citizen Engagement Technology Division, explains: “We are able to know the ‘mistakes’ early and change the code early – even on the spot.”

Quick resultsIt helps that there is an agile division in the Public Service as government agencies can tap on the team to test out their innovations before scaling up the projects.

For example, the “Suggest A Book” microsite, which has completed its three-month pilot run, attracted at

In today’s environment, everybody wants things yesterday. Now, we

cannot wait a year for a programme to be rolled out, so the agile

approach becomes very appropriate.

Lim Eyung Consultant

Cheah Yin Ling Software Developer

Jacqueline Aw UX Designer

Alan RamosAssociate Consultant Ng Herk Low

Senior Consultant

Page 9: Challenge March - April 2013

least 2,000 book submissions. There are now plans to take the project further.

Public officers want something to show their management so that they can get more buy-in before engaging external vendors, says Mr Lim.

With the waterfall method, they would have to wait for a year before they have an actual product. But with the IDA agile team, public officers can develop a prototype within two to three weeks. How’s that for efficiency?

Roadblocks While response to the newly formed agile team has been favourable, a shift in mindset is needed for the approach to take off in a big way within the government, says Mr Kang.

Agencies must learn to work together in partnership, he says. “Using this ap-

proach, you’ll have to meet almost every week. It’s no longer a case of you giv-ing the specifications one time [to the developer] and seeing if it works two years down the road.”

Mr Lim adds that the agile method requires the public officers to be very involved in the project but some agencies are not ready for that. “They are still used to the traditional way, where they manage the vendor instead of the project.”

While it is still work in progress, he is optimistic the efforts to promote the agile method within the government will eventually pay off.

“We have to prove the concept first, or else it’s very hard to move forward,” he says. “Once we have taken the first step, the second and third steps will become easier. With that, it’ll be easier to change

the whole government, and to bring in agile in a proper way.”

Beyond agility Adapting to the agile approach is not the only thing agencies have to grapple with if they wish to develop quality IT products in record time.

Some organisations are still not receptive to using social media tools, such as ac-cepting comments on their applications. “During the consultation phase, they’ll find these features very interesting. But when we reach the development stage, they become unsure and they drop the features, so the final product is not as good,” says Mr Lim.

It seems that the Public Service does not just need to speed up its processes. Taking calculated risks and having the courage to venture into new territory is an art to master as well.

Viviean Chan Personal Assistant

Lim Soy Boon Consultant

Sasikala Gnanamuthu

Software Developer

Janey Ngow Consultant

Medy Associate Consultant

Mani Sundaramurthy Executive Consultant

07Feature

Page 10: Challenge March - April 2013

A Singapore built on greater trust and cooperation between citizens could well be within our reach, if we are willing to embrace collaborative consumption in a big way.

Text by Richard Hartung Photos by John Heng Set Design by Yip Siew Fei & Ng Shi Wei

FROM A FARMER TRADING his excess eggs for another’s milk, to hopping into your neighbour’s car for a lift, the sharing of resources is an age-old practice. Similarly, if you are craving for a good book and know your friend has it, you can borrow it from her instead of buying it, saving yourself a few bucks.

But if your neighbour is not going in your direction or your friend has already lent out that book, it might seem you are out of luck. Or perhaps not – all thanks to technology, sharing nowadays has become easier, even fun. For instance, instead of riding with your neighbour, check out sharetransport.sg for its community of thousands of

commuters to see who’s going your way. Meanwhile the lucky folks living in the London borough of Sutton can borrow from a wide selection of books loaned by other residents through an online book-sharing scheme.

If these sound too good to be true, you might want to consider experiencing for yourse l f this phenomenon of sharing that is taking the world by storm, better known as “collaborative consumption”. Rachel Botsman, who coined the term in What’s Mine Is Yours: The Rise of Collaborative Consump-tion, the book she co-authored with Roo Rogers in 2010, describes it as “traditional sharing, bartering, lending, trading, renting, gifting and swapping,

The game plan for a SHARING CITY

redefined through technology and peer communities”.

More than about helping people save money and cut wastage, this modern kind of sharing is shaping out to be a formidable force of change, for the economy as well as society. It is, said TIME magazine in 2011, one of the “10 Ideas That Will Change the World”.

How it all beganWhile Ms Botsman’s definition may be recent, the revival of resource sharing in the modern-day economy dates back a few decades ago. Car sharing started in Europe in the 1980s, and the idea was borrowed by two mothers living in Massachusetts to start Zipcar in

Page 11: Challenge March - April 2013

More than about helping people save money and cut wastage, this modern kind of sharing is shaping out to be a formidable force of change, for the economy as well as society.

North America in 2000. In 1999, U.S. company Napster was founded to enable individuals to share music files.

But it was the global economic crisis of 2008 that got people thinking harder about innovative ways to slash spending, or simply to survive. Sharing became one clear answer. In hard-hit Greece, there are now several Internet-based community groups that host exchanges

for goods and services (food produce for computer technical help or language lessons, for example).

In a bigger way, sharing-based busi-nesses such as Airbnb – an international shared accommodation scheme for travellers – and Buzzcar, a car-sharing service in Paris that lets you rent your neighbours’ car when they are not driv-ing, have taken off to become household names – and major money spinners.

Airbnb, for one, was last valued at as much as US$2.5 billion in 2012.

For your average Joe, resource sharing can make living in an expensive city more affordable. The San Francisco Planning and Urban Research Associa-tion (SPUR), for instance, has found that the city’s residents are saving money by sharing expensive items, such as cars, rather than owning them; or are earn-ing extra income by renting out their home when they travel. Airbnb hosts in the Californian city earn an average of US$5,000 a year from renting out their housing space.

Besides helping to reduce consumption, resource sharing also leads to less items entering incinerators and landfills. Ve-hicle sharing cuts congestion of roads and parking lots.

DARE TO SHARE:Collaborative consumption has the potential to strengthen trust between people, giving them the confidence to share their living space or possessions with strangers.

09Cover Story

Page 12: Challenge March - April 2013

Social powerWhile the concept of sharing is noth-ing new, what makes collaborative consumption transformative, is its use of technology that enables sharing to take place even among strangers.

For Mr Bryan Walsh, a writer with TIME magazine, the real benefit of today’s sharing phenomenon is social. He wrote: “In an era when families are scattered and we may not know the people down the street, sharing things – even with strangers we’ve just met online – allows us to make meaningful connections.”

Under the Sutton online book-sharing scheme, for example, residents meet up in real life to agree on the loan terms for books after having initiated con-tact online. The Sutton council, which worked with software developer Adrian Short to develop the scheme, adopts a “hands-off ” approach so the system

can function on its own based on trust between the residents. The success of the scheme has led the council to develop a book-sharing programming code with Nesta, a UK charity organisation promoting innovation, which could be used to spark off similar initiatives in other communities and schools.

Technology builds trust between strang-ers by making it possible to monitor each individual’s track record in sharing across multiple digital services.

Ms Botsman called this the “reputation economy” in a WIRED article last year. The better your virtual reputation, the more trustworthy you would seem and the more “social capital” you would have online, so others will be more likely to share with you. Conversely, you would want to take good care of others’ goods so as to earn a better reputation. Collaborative consumption thus reinforces trust.

In nearly a dozen cities around the world, that social connection is also moving from the virtual world to the physical. Meet-up groups like Sharers in San Francisco and Wikinomics Collec-tive in London have together attracted hundreds of members – business owners and individuals – who want to partici-pate in the mass sharing movement.

“During commercial transactions, you deal with a ‘what’ instead of a ‘who’. The exact opposite is the case for collaborative consumption,” observed Jeffrey Andreoni, writing on OuiShare, an online community portal dedicated to promoting a collaborative economy. The result, he said, is a new model where people feel they can rely on one another, even if they connected online originally.

Singapore – a sharing society?It is time to consider how the culture of sharing can help us improve social

GOING TO THE SAME PLACE? LET’S SHARE A CAB!Apps like Split-it! and GoMyWay enable commuters travelling along the same route to share a taxi and split the fare.

HOP IN, EVERYONE!

FEELS GOOD TO SAVE

MONEY!

Page 13: Challenge March - April 2013

It is time to consider how the culture of sharing in today’s society can help

us improve social relationships,

encourage empathy and build bridges in communities all across Singapore.

relationships, encourage empathy and build bridges in communities all across Singapore. This shift could be especially important at a time when “NIMBY-ism” and spats between neighbours seem to be increasing, and where the kampung spirit that helped overcome those dif-ficulties in the past may be declining.

Additionally, as sharing rather than owning could help to increase people’s access to goods, this could in turn ease some social tensions between this coun-try’s “haves” and “have-nots”.

There are uplifting signs that collab-orative consumption may have a shot at succeeding in Singapore. Just a few examples can show the breadth of shar-ing that is starting to expand.

An early market entrant is sharetrans-port.sg, which connects people who want to share a ride to the office or the mall by enabling carpooling and taxi-pooling through its website and mobile app. Commuters can also band together to lease a bus for rides from home to the office and back, with about 10 such routes formed so far. Started in March 2012, sharetransport.sg now has over 10,000 users.

There are also new players, like iCars-club, which links car owners with other drivers. Owners can set their rental rates and advertise when their cars will be available on weekends and public holidays. Renters can go online anytime to make a reservation, and pick up the car from where the owner has left it. Insurance is included in the rental.

“Singapore is the best place to test our idea because of the high demand [for] private cars, [coupled with deeper] trust between people and overall [safety],”

iCarsclub co-founder Jamie Wang, who hails from China, told technology news portal Tech In Asia last year. “Once our idea is validated in Singapore, we can easily replicate our business in other cities similar to Singapore.”

So far, Mr Wang told Challenge, cus-tomer reaction has been quite positive, with over 200 cars and 600 drivers sign-ing up even though iCarsclub was only launched last December. The founders have worked with online insurance company DirectAsia.com to design a new insurance model that protects car owners and renters on their peer-to-peer rental scheme. They have also come up with a keyless technology to track speed, mileage, location and even accidents.

Besides transport-sharing services, shar-ing of space is also becoming popular here. Coworking Singapore is one ex-ample of an organisation offering space for entrepreneurs, freelancers and other mobile workers who want to share the same workspace, build friendships and exchange ideas. Along with a shared or dedicated desk, members have access to a conference room, lounge, pantry, high-speed wireless Internet, printer and locker. Another company, Cowork@SG, has taken the concept even further by setting up flexible workspaces in four locations scattered across Singa-pore, as well as organising events for its members.

Entrepreneurs or organisations with a social or environmental mission can approach The HUB, which provides space for co-working, events and col-laboration. “It is inspiring to be sur-rounded by people doing good work,” says member and consultant Solonia Teodros. The HUB has 260 members as of February.

The Public Service is at it tooSome government agencies are also taking to the sharing idea.

To encourage employers to set up shared offices in communities across Singapore, the Infocomm Development Authority issued a call for collaboration in April last year, inviting industry players to conduct pilots in setting up Smart Work Centres.

MY OFFICE IS YOURS:For computer geeks, HackerSpaceSg offers anything from a sofa space to a dedicated desk in its community-operated office at Bussorah Street.

WHATEVER...

AND YOURS IS MINE.

11Cover Story

Page 14: Challenge March - April 2013

Another agency, SPRING Singapore, has a part in funding Rent Tycoons, a site that enables peer-to-peer renting in everything from computers and tools to fashion, jewellery, wedding gowns and party items like popcorn machines.

Such support from the authorities is heartening for entrepreneurs spear-heading collaborative consumption in Singapore, which is still in its infancy. “Government endorsement will get people thinking such activity is le-gitimate and [could go] mainstream,” said sharetransport.sg co-founder Soh Chong Kian. For instance, “government assistance in identity verification for online collaborative consumption can allow people to connect with the confi-dence that the other party is legitimate.”

As new mode l s o f co l l abora t i ve consumption evolve, the Public Ser-vice is likely to get more involved in one way or another. Experiences in other locations and research by or-ganisations like SPUR provide examples of superior practices that the Public Service can leverage in dealing with this trend.

Government agencies need to make sure

their monitoring, regulating and taxing activities

help rather than hinder the

sharing economy.

One requirement is in planning and setting up rules that actually work. For instance, car sharing was held back in California for years because insurance regulations didn’t allow it. “What companies within the sharing economy need from government is to be allowed to operate,” SPUR noted, and government agencies need to make sure their monitoring, regulating and taxing activities help rather than hinder the sharing economy.

What is very important for the gov-ernment, Melissa O’Young wrote on

Shareable (an online magazine about sharing), is to play a role in clarifying the legal rights and responsibilities of people participating in collaborative consumption. Updating regulations is also critical, she said, since busi-nesses and technology change so fast. Only through regulatory changes in California, for example, have peer-to-peer lenders like Zopa been allowed to operate and car owners enabled to keep their insurance when they rent out their car.

In Singapore, the growth of peer-to-peer car sharing services could be limited by current regulations that only allow private car rentals on weekends and public holidays. But changes may be on the horizon – according to Mr Wang, iCarsclub is in discussions with the Land Transport Authority to open its services to the weekday market.

Also, not all forms of sharing behaviour are welcomed by the authorities here. Room rental services such as Airbnb are currently illegal in Singapore. The Urban Redevelopment Authority told The Straits Times in 2012 that “private

FREE ACCOMMODATION:Couchsurfing.org, a social networking site with over 5 million members worldwide, connects travellers with hosts who are willing to offer free stays in their homes.

PULAU UBIN.

WHERE ARE YOU FROM?

Page 15: Challenge March - April 2013

residential properties can be rented out or sublet – but only for periods of six months or more” because ‘‘transient oc-cupiers may disturb and inconvenience other residents.” Despite this official stance, intrepid landlords and tourists in Singapore are reportedly going ahead anyway, with the hope that regulations will catch up with the trend one day.

All in all, the Public Service should be prepared to handle a few ruffled feathers in its efforts to encourage collaborative consumption. If shared goods are dam-aged by people operating under rules set up by government agencies, the agencies could end up being blamed for the problem. Meanwhile, for rules governing Airbnb-type arrangements, the Public Service could take the chance to engage the public in discussions about whether such rules ought to be relaxed to allow leasing.

Privacy laws may also need to be tweaked to allow websites to start distributing personal details about the sharing behaviour of collaborators, for example. But would Singaporeans be willing to compromise their privacy in exchange for promoting sharing? Perhaps this can be another opportunity for more dialogue between the Public Service and the public.

The ownership mentality Rules aside, embracing sharing as a cultural norm also requires us to over-come the ownership mindset.

Despite the small steps collaborative consumption has made here, generally “consumers in Singapore are not used to the concept of sharing since we tend to like new shiny stuff,” Mr Eugene Tay, director of environmental solutions company Green Future Solutions told Challenge. In other words, the concept of ownership has become so ingrained in our culture that it could be difficult to think about sharing.

“In many societies throughout the world, material ownership is connected with developing one’s identity and, therefore, constitutes an integral part of the culture,” reported CSRWire, a portal for social responsibility and sus-

tainability news. Singapore is perhaps one of those societies. Many people here buy apartments almost as much for status as for a place to live, and the same status could come from individual ownership of other items – a fancy car, for instance – rather than from the sharing of resources.

Still, trends could shift. As Mr Walsh explained in the 2011 TIME article, “we yearn to trust and be trusted – one researcher has found that people get a spike of the pleasant neurotransmitter oxytocin when they’re entrusted with another’s goods. That’s the beauty of a sharing society…” 

Despite the obstacles, it seems that collaborative consumption is here to stay – and grow. With its potential to strengthen social bonds and connect communities at a time when they are drifting apart, the social benefits may well help overcome weak neighbour-hood links and reduce tensions caused by income disparities.

Seeing how several sharing efforts are already sprouting on the ground, per-haps the best support the Public Ser-vice could offer is to allow the seed of collaborative consumption to continue growing without choking it with overly strict regulations and laws.

1

2

WELCOME TO MY HOME:Airbnb may be illegal in Singapore, but that has not stopped enterprising individuals from renting out their housing space to tourists.

WE COME IN PEACE...

HEY, I’VE ALWAYS WANTED A MAGIC WAND. WANT TO

TRADE?

SURE!

13Cover Story

Page 16: Challenge March - April 2013

Sustainable

Text by Bridgette See

From declining industrial town to vibrant eco city: Mayor Ilmar Reepalu shares how he helped to transform Malmö.

Making a

Comeback

THE YEAR WAS 1994.Mr Ilmar Reepalu, then 52, was newly elected Mayor of the City of Malmö, in the south of Sweden.

But what he had inherited was not a pretty sight. The once-thriving industrial city of 240,000 had been in decline since the ’70s; by the 1980s, its key shipbuilding indus-try had collapsed. Unemployment was rife and the city ’s youths were leaving, and the situation worsened when industries shifted to Eastern Europe for cheaper labour fol-lowing the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989.

Local political instability took a further toll on the economy. Before Mr Reepalu assumed office, political

power had flip-flopped between two parties for a decade.

“During this period, politics shifted 180 degrees every time [a different party won]. It was a very politi-cally volatile period,” recounted Mr Reepalu, who was in Singapore last year for the World Cities Summit where he spoke on Malmö’s sustain-ability efforts.

Elected on a majority ticket, he saw a chance to reinvent the city. “I knew I would lose my own majority after four years… so I had four years to

Mayor Ilmar Reepalu has been at the helm of

Malmö since 1994.

Malmö’s Kockums shipyard was closed in the 1980s and the land transformed into sustainable housing developments (above).

Page 17: Challenge March - April 2013

make all the difficult decisions,” said the mayor, who has been re-elected consecutively since 1994.

“I said, ‘Now if we want to change the city, there must be a long-term vision because the business sector won’t invest if they fear a 180-degree shift (in policies)’ after every election.”

A clear visionSo Mr Reepalu, along with the local government, gathered more than 150 representatives from the communi-ty ’s various fields – politicians of all stripes, state officials, administra-tors, artists, academics and business people – to envision Malmö’s future. The result was a collective vision to make Malmö a city of knowledge.

With the transformation in mind, the city embarked on a number of key projects to turn Malmö around. This included the setting up of Malmö University. “At that time, in the city centre, the stores were closed and people were jobless. You really felt the poverty of the city,” said Mr Reepalu, who envisioned a city university that would attract young people and professors, create buzz in the arts and cultural scene, stimulate a bustling café scene and add life to the city.

And when Sweden joined the Euro-pean Union in 1995, Mr Reepalu was convinced that Malmö had to look beyond traditional national borders for opportunities. So he pushed for the Öresund Bridge to be built be-

tween Malmö and the Danish city of Copenhagen – convinced that the two cities could prosper as an economic region. These projects, among others, helped to put the city back onto the path of economic recovery.

Leading the packBut what has helped to set Malmö apart from other cities has been its overarching focus on sustainable urban development and housing.

As a young architect in the ’70s, Mr Reepalu had attended the first United Nations Conference on the Human Environment in Stockholm where the seed of sustainable living was planted in his mind. Twenty years later, he was finally in a posi-tion to convince Malmö’s stakehold-ers that its future could be that of a leading environmental city.

So before “sustainability” and “cli-mate change” became the world’s buzzwords, Malmö was already long on to them. From the late ‘90s onwards, the city embarked upon various sustainable urban projects, including turning “brownfields” or former industrial lands into eco-de-velopments (see sidebox on pg 16).

Making green issues localYet Malmö did not start off by just beating the “climate change” drum to residents. Instead, it started small, by addressing residents’ im-mediate concerns for cleaner and cheaper living.

Clockwise from left (this page): A solar engine generates renewable energy; a child plays next to the stormwater filtration system in Augustenborg; and green buildings in the Western Harbour.

15FeatureA

ll p

ho

tos

fro

m t

he

Cit

y o

f M

alm

ö, w

ww

. mal

mo.

se/s

ust

ain

able

city

Page 18: Challenge March - April 2013

This is the final of a three-part series on the World Cities Summit.

For instance, shared Mr Reepalu, when city officials set out to rejuve-nate Augustenborg, an ageing coal-dependent public housing estate, in 1997, they involved its residents in planning the redevelopment as they wanted residents to “own” the solutions they came up with.

“We formed groups and asked ‘How can we change the surround-ings so you will stay and raise your children here?’” When residents replied that they wanted cheaper heating, the city retrofitted their homes to improve insulation and added meters so residents could monitor their usage. The latter led to energy-saving behaviour, such as taking shorter showers.

The residents themselves contrib-uted ideas: they formed a carpooling system, and also designed a waste sorting and management system. A resident even invented a storm-water filtration system that is now a Malmö export. Today, Augusten-borg is a living testbed for cleantech initiatives, attracting thousands of international visitors eager to learn from it.

Making it easy to be greenSo how did Malmö convince its residents to think and act more eco-consciously? “You start by making it easy,” said Mr Reepalu.

The city, for instance, has built recy-cling complexes for most apartment

blocks in Malmö. Each of these complexes has separate contain-ers visibly labelled to recycle glass, paper, cardboard, metal, plastic and batteries.

The city also enhanced laws to change behaviour, shared the mayor. For example, residents are rewarded for recycling by getting 2 kronor (S$0.40) for every plastic bottle and 1 krona (S$0.20) for a beer can. There is also a landfill tax of 500 kronor (S$95) for every tonne

of waste to encourage greater recy-cling, reusing and reducing of waste in Malmö.

As a result, Malmö residents now recycle 98% of their waste.

A cleantech leaderThe city ’s forward thinking and bold investments in cleantech – before it became a trend – have paid off. In

less than 20 years, Malmö has gone from a polluted industrial city to a “cleantech city” where researchers and businesses develop new ideas, products and services that benefit the world.

Today, it has Sweden’s largest photovoltaic plant for solar energy and the world’s third largest wind park to tap wind energy. Now it is even aiming to be carbon neutral by 2020, with the entire city to run on renewable energy by 2030.

Once reputed for its bustling ship-yard and towering cranes, Malmö today takes pride in leading the world in sustainable living, while safeguarding its residents’ future.

The residents themselves

contributed ideas: they formed a

carpooling system, and also designed

a waste sorting and management

system.

Malmö has built 410km of dedicated cycling

paths and infrastructure to make cycling safer and

more convenient.

LEARNING FROM FAILURE

Malmö’s Kockums shipyard, which closed in the 1980s, was on prime

land. The city invested millions to convert this brownfield to a

sustainable development. In 1998, Malmö University opened here and then in 2001, a large-scale

international housing expo, Bo01, was built. The bold pilot project showcased how polluted industrial land and water could be rehabilitated for sustainable

developments. Bo01 became Sweden’s first climate-neutral city district,

with energy produced from 100% renewable sources and organic waste

converted to biogas for city buses. The expo was a financial failure but it has been credited for furthering eco-thinking in Malmö with its tangible showing of sustainable innovations.

RIDICULOUS CAR RIDES

To encourage cycling, the city built 410km of dedicated cycling paths and numerous bike stations for cyclists to

park and take a shower before heading to work. More recently, it used humour to encourage cycling with a campaign highlighting how silly it was to drive

short distances. Car drivers who shared the most ridiculous stories of their

short drives won bicycles.

Page 19: Challenge March - April 2013

IF YOU HAVE GROWN UP in Singapore, you would probably be familiar with slogans like “Clean and Green”, and Singa the Lion, one of our many national mascots. As part of the Singapore Memory Project, the National Library Board and art curatorial company Salon Projects have teamed up to organise Campaign City: Life in Posters – a showcase of artworks from 50 artists who, drawing inspiration from their own memories and experiences, put their own spin on campaigns we know and love (or not).

HavingfunwithA

NATIONALOBSESSION

1. For artists from design studio ampulets, the tigers – male and female – are lifeless rugs, campaigning in a city that is desperately seeking babies.2. Artists from Cake Theatrical Productions wonder if anyone islistening to what national campaigns are saying.3. Livia Chng’s cheeky take on the lack of effectiveness of campaigns to mould social behaviour. 4. Eeshaun doubts if the government’s call for more babies will work. 5. Green Zeng wants to get the audience thinking about issues related to the Speak Mandarin Campaign.6. Artist ZXEROKOOL uses the panda, now a pop culture icon, to depict how “cool” it is to master the Chinese language.

With tongue firmly in cheek, an exhibition explores

Singaporeans’ relationship with national campaigns.

The exhibition held at the Lee Kong Chian Reference Librar y (Level 11 of the National Library Building) is on from now till July 7. Register for guided tours at eKiosks available at all libraries or go to golibrary.nlb.gov.sg/

1

2

3

4

5

6

17Feature

Page 20: Challenge March - April 2013

who could then research the law and prepare a letter to propose changes in voting procedures. And there were (and sti l l are) many lawyers who would have jumped at the chance to help the blind – if they knew about the problem. If only there was a way to matchmake public-spirited lawyers with charities that needed pro bono legal help.

Now, we have such a matchmaker. The Singapore Law Society ’s Pro Bono Services Office runs Project Law Help, an initiative to match non-profit organisations with lawyers who want to help them. Project Law Help placed me in the SAVH and with

the blessing of my law firm, Drew & Napier, I provided free legal help to the organisation.  I had a small part to play in looking up voting laws and starting the ball rolling to change our election practices.

Like many lawyers, I was always keen on pro bono work but without Project Law Help I would never have known how to go about it. It ’s only when we discover that people need our help that we start to think about what needs to be done, and how we can do it. Since

DURING THE LAST GENERAL Election, visually handicapped Sin-gaporeans faced their usual hurdle: they could not vote in secret. Many complained they weren’t allowed to mark their own ballot papers. Instead, over ly enthusiastic officers at the voting centres insisted on asking for their voting choice to mark the papers for them. In frustration, some blind voters tore up their ba l lot s l ips , rather than reveal their choice to absolute strangers.  

Helping the blind in this case could have been quite simple: if they were told the layout of the ballot paper, they would be able to write an “x” in the right space. The Singapore Association of the Visually Handicapped (SAVH) President Tan Guan Heng wrote to the Ministry of Law to address the issue. With typical Singaporean efficiency,

Minister K Shanmugam’s team very quickly organised a meeting with the authorities and SAVH representatives. Procedures were swiftly revamped – as a result, during the 2011 Presidential Election in August, stencils were provided to blind voters to help them “read” ballot papers. For the first time in Singapore history, the blind voted, on their own and in secret.  

Why didn’t this happen decades earlier? I put it down to a lack of awareness. The blind needed to talk to lawyers,

then I’ve found that there is no short-age of ways to help the blind.

Make no mistake: blind Singaporeans are very capable but every now and then they encounter problems that the sighted would never dream of. For instance, the blind, like others, want to own and operate their own businesses. But every business needs a corporate bank account to receive and pay out. So far, we have not been able to find a Singapore bank willing to open a current account to be operated by blind businessmen. The reason? Banks don’t feel comfortable allowing the blind to sign cheques.  

We haven’t solved that problem, just as we haven’t solved the problem of traffic crossings. The Land Transport Authority had introduced beeping traffic lights for blind pedestrians but some residents asked for them to be removed, complaining that they dis-turbed their children’s studies.

Now that you’re aware of these two problems and the help that is required, please let me know if you have ideas or can lend a hand.

Adrian Tan is a lawyer and author of bestselling novels The Teenage Textbook and The Teenage Workbook. He was the moderator for the inaugural inter-varsity Pro Bono Debate between the law faculties of the National University of Singapore and the Singapore Management University in September 2012.

Thinking Aloud18

Why didn’t this happen decades earlier? I put it down to a lack of awareness.

Knowing how help is needed can spark the pro bono spirit,

says lawyer Adrian Tan.

AWARENESSGiving starts with

Page 21: Challenge March - April 2013

DEAR YOUNG OFFICER,

OUR PUBLIC SERVICE AND THE world at large have evolved beyond recognition since I was a young officer like you some 40 years ago when I first joined the Service. Today’s challenges and opportunities are not those of a decade ago, nor will they remain the same a few years from now. Hence we need to be fast in responding to change.

The Singapore Police Force used to rely upon a top-down, command-and-control management approach. While such a traditional leadership style has its merits, we have realised that the strength of any organisation lies in its people, and its preparedness to engage staff as partners to co-create success. That is why when I became Commis-sioner in 1997, we embraced collective leadership and practised transparent and open communication at all levels.  When I took on the role of President of INTERPOL in 2008, I thought the same concepts of openness and trans-parency would put me in good stead in guiding the organisation. However, as an international organisation with numer-ous stakeholders, these basic tenets were often inadequate, handicapped in part by cultural and language differences.  Such experiences showed me that change is constant – there is no one-size-fits-all strategy to managing people, organisations and work challenges. Instead, explore better ways of doing things and come up with creative solu-tions. Be mindful, however, that many ideas have been previously considered and not all the reasons for decisions made have been or can be recorded.

Stand firm In the midst of making bold moves, there will be times when mistakes are made, or changes introduced are slow to produce results. To that, I urge you to push on, and hold fast to your values; not just your own, but your organisation’s, the Public Service’s and Singapore’s. Through my years of policing experi-ences, I have learnt to live by a core set of values which remind me to be self-disciplined, have respect for others, uphold integrity, commit selflessly to our Public Service, engage with others, and have compassion.

Mistakes will not define you, but your values will. It is easier to make deci-

sions when you have deeply held values that will steadfastly guide you at the crossroads of your life. Only then will you be able to do the right thing at the right time in the right way, and with the right motive to produce the right results. On leadershipAs you advance in your career and take on greater leadership roles, I encourage you to be… Humble – The best ideas do not always come from the top. Listen to your peers and subordinates.  

Brave – Have the intellectual courage to speak your mind even when talking to your superiors.

T houghtful – Instil in your team members a sense of self-worth. Engage and involve them, and develop processes and platforms for them to create value for the organisation and themselves. Be a leader and a team player by taking ownership for both the team’s triumphs and failures.  Also, to lead well, you need to regularly examine the moral implications and effects of your actions on others, and understand the values that drive you.

Many high-potential young leaders have derailed because they had failed to learn from mistakes, change and grow. Some were over-reliant on strengths that became weak-

nesses when circumstances changed. Others failed to address some crucial deficiencies that became accentuated when their roles expanded. To remain effective in your leadership, you have to be keenly aware of what strengths you bring to your leadership and where your limitations lie, and to continuously challenge yourself so as to expand your own capacity to lead well.

It is your fresh mind, enthusiasm, optimism about what is possible, and commitment to the core values of our profession that will bring our Public Service forward.

27Letters to a Young Public Officer

Mistakes will not define you, but your values will.

by Khoo Boon Hui Senior Deputy Secretary (Development),

Ministry of Home AffairsDirector, Institute of Leadership and Organisation Development

and Senior Fellow, Civil Service College

Be nimble yetSTEADFAST

Page 22: Challenge March - April 2013

EVERYONE WHO HAS WORKED WITH Mr Ng Lang, CEO of the URA, would have no-ticed that he seems to be clad in the same white long-sleeved shirt every day. Ask him why and he demurs: “Oh, this is so embarrassing. Please don’t write this!”

It takes a considerable amount of probing before Mr Ng explains: His wardrobe is actually filled with identical shirts. “When I started work-ing, I had a wardrobe of different shirts but after two years, I realised it was a chore mak-ing such decisions.” He would rather direct his time and energy towards his responsibilities at work.

“It (wearing identical shirts) grows on you after a while,” says the CEO who admit-tedly craves simplicity. And so, in his trade-mark white shirt, Mr Ng sits down at Empo-rium, a cocktail bar and restaurant near his office, for coffee with Challenge to talk about URA’s work.

Budgeting land“Our job is almost like the Ministry of Finance’s but instead of budgeting money, we budget land,” Mr Ng begins.

Discipline, in parcelling out 710 sq km of land, is requisite. “We have to make difficult trade-offs and juggle the competing needs of a rather sophisticated society,” he explains. “You have conservation groups that want to keep Bukit Brown, youngsters who say they

With a projected 6.9 million population in 2030, how does the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) plan to f it that many people into 766 sq km of land (after reclamation), while ensuring Singapore remains a liveable space? Its CEO, Mr Ng Lang, explains.

Text by Wong Sher Maine Photos by John Heng

“Good Planning

is not justabout now”

Page 23: Challenge March - April 2013

want more HDB flats that should not be smaller, and people who want more roads and cars.”

The co-owner of Emporium herself would have given Mr Ng an earful had she known who he was. “We have been appealing to the URA to close off the road (Emporium is located at Ann Siang Road) to cars on weekends to no avail,” she later bursts out after he has left and she learns who he is.

With various groups in society hav-ing different and sometimes conflict-ing opinions of how the land should be used, communicating effectively so that citizens understand the deci-sion-making process is an important part of the URA’s work.

Banking land for the future, even if people are complaining, is also part of that discipline.

Ten percent of Singapore’s land is put aside for nature reserves and parks, and when asked if the URA would raze the jungles in the north-west corner of Singapore for devel-opment, Mr Ng answers (albeit in-directly): “We do safeguard forested areas for nature reserves and military training. But good planning is not just about now. We cannot consume things ahead of time, and some land areas are kept for future use when your children grow up.”

Ultimately, the goal is to ensure that Singapore is a liveable city, for now and in future, he says.

Creating liveabilityAsked to define “liveable”, Mr Ng replies: “A liveable place is where we can sustain a competitive economy, a place with a quality living environ-ment where people can thrive as in-dividuals and live meaningful lives.”

And what does he have to say to those who claim that Singapore, in its pursuit of economic growth, has become less liveable? “The eco-nomic part is important because that must work before everything else. Without a robust economy, all your dreams about having a good qua-lity of life would be very difficult to achieve. But it doesn’t mean that it ’s something we want to achieve at

the expense of everything else. Apart from the economy, we also look at the social and environment aspects.”

The former NParks CEO is proud of how Singapore has scored on the environmental front. This is from a strategic standpoint – “there is no other built-up city in the world that has as much greenery as Singa-pore, which gives us a competitive advantage [in drawing skilled for-eign talent and investments]” – as well as personal.

He talks fondly about the “80-some-thing Ah Ma” who cares for a com-munity garden bursting with golden sunflowers on the rooftop of Block 337, Jurong East Avenue 1, and brings his foldable bike for week-end spins at the park connectors. At home, he has himself created a “garden in the sky” on the balcony of his 9th floor apartment. Featur-ing fragrant plants like bread flow-ers, murraya and jasmine, the gar-den took seed two-and-a-half years ago, after Mr Ng was inspired by his NParks stint. “Birds nested in our garden, which confirmed my belief that if you make an effort to green things up, nature will come back.”

Future SingaporeSince he became the URA’s CEO in

We cannot consume things ahead of time, and some land areas are kept for future use when your children grow up.

29A Cuppa With...

Page 24: Challenge March - April 2013

A Cuppa With...30

2010, Mr Ng has been busy with the concept plan review, which looks at land use in Singapore every 10 years. It has recently been completed and released as the Land Use Plan.

This is what living in Singapore will be like in the years to come: Instead of commuting into the city, you will probably be working nearer to home as the URA develops subur-ban economic zones in areas like the Jurong Lake District, Kallang Riverside and Woodlands. It will be greener, as more Active, Beau-tiful, Clean Waters projects and a 150-km round-island park con-nector route bloom into reality. Expect to see more gardens in the sky as developers integrate vegetation into concrete build-ings. Singaporeans can also look out for more mixed-use spaces for living, working and playing, such as the condominium with the mall and offices downstairs.

As this writer bristles at the prolif-eration of malls in Singapore, Mr Ng observes: “You seem to have a problem with malls. What does it matter if they are providing quality public spaces where people can gather and enjoy themselves? We also balance that with a generous provision of parks.”

One of his favourite malls, he reveals, is VivoCity, simply because families congregate there for a

good time at the rooftop park and water playground.

Of late, the URA has gone into thinking about the “software” as-pects of a space and what makes people flock there. So beyond build-ing the physical infrastructure, a special URA unit has since 2008 gone into organising place-making activities. “It ’s not just about beauti-ful buildings and iconic structures,” Mr Ng says, “but also about inculcating a sense of owner-ship and belonging.” That could include getting people on the ground involved in land planning.

Making exceptions“Software” also implies a closer understanding of the needs of busi-

What’s usually in your cuppa?Black coffee without sugar. I cannot reconcile bitterness and sweetness.

When do you usually have your cuppa?

Once a day in my office.

nesses and individuals. Sometimes, exceptions can be made. For instance, while the URA generally does not allow businesses to mar the skyline with waterfront advertisements in Marina Bay, it is willing to relax the rule during big celebrations. “I often tell people that exceptions can be rules in themselves,” explains Mr Ng.

Last September, the URA was asked by The Straits Times to explain why the agency allowed a Haji Lane shophouse owner to keep its graf-fiti art, although the strong colours of the art contravened the conserved shophouse colour guidelines. Mr Ng says: “What ’s been done there is in keeping with the entrepreneurial, lively character of the place, and is welcomed by the community.”

A week after Challenge ’s in-terview with Mr Ng, an article appeared in The Straits Times: In response to feedback, the URA is considering closing off Ann Siang Road to cars on Friday and Saturday evenings.

Emporium’s lady boss would be pleased to know that.

It’s not just about beautiful buildings and iconic structures, but also about inculcating a sense of ownership and belonging.

Page 25: Challenge March - April 2013

Text by Chen Jingting

Known for creating spaces that can sense our presence and respond to us, Professor Carlo Ratti shares how he makes his ideas come alive.

ITALIAN ARCHITECT CARLO Ratti is probably the only person in the world who has garnered rave re-views for creating a “watered down” version of a building.

Together with his team from the SENSEable City Lab at the Massachusetts Institute of Technol-ogy (MIT), Professor Ratti built the Digital Water Pavilion in Spain. It was constructed out of curtains of water and fitted with sensors to de-tect the presence of visitors, so that the curtains would part to let them in. The “water walls” also double up as display spaces – thanks to com-puter-controlled nozzles, the water droplets can be shaped into various texts and images.

The first of its kind to digitally manipulate water as building and display material, the Pavilion was named by TIME magazine as one of the “Best Inventions of the Year” in 2007 and was part of the 2008 World Expo in Zaragoza, Spain. It is an example of how technology can change the way we see and inter-act with space. Sensors and comput-ers that control them have made it possible for once-static structures to respond to us in real time.

Clearly, here is a man who has turned the architectural conven-tion of buildings as fixed and static elements on its head. But even the visionary himself admits he once had doubts about his “crazy” ideas.

“There was a time when I wouldn’t mention many of the ideas I thought about,” he tells Challenge, “because I wasn’t convinced about

“Singaporecanthinkabitmorecrazily”

Pho

to L

ars

Kru

ger

(w

ww

.lu

miv

ere.

com

)

Page 26: Challenge March - April 2013

them. That actually killed a lot of possible creativity.”

Bright ideas Besides manipulating water to create dynamic environments, Prof Ratti has also experimented with lights.

His 2010 Flyfire project with the MIT SENSEable City Lab attempts to construct 3D displays from tiny flying LED lights that can be con-trolled to morph into different shapes in the air.

Though the project is still being developed and has its critics (one criticism is that it may not work in environments with strong winds), if successful, it could change the face of public communication. For instance, the way we view advertisements in public spaces could be transformed. Good-bye, 2D posters and billboards; hello, 3D moving canvases.

How does the 42-year-old get in-spiration for bright ideas like these? The tip he gives sounds almost too easy to be true: “You don’t need to think too hard about it to get ideas. Sometimes the ideas just come when you’re relaxing.” The idea for Flyfire hit him when he was about to fall asleep on a flight. “Travel-ling is a good time to think about things,” he says.

Prof Ratti and his team then spent two years developing the project be-

fore they scored their first successful prototype, which shows that innova-tion does not stop at “Eureka!”

Quoting inventor Thomas Edi-son who gave the famous adage “genius is 1% inspiration, 99% per-spiration”, he says: “Being innovative is not just about being inspired but making things happen.”

Bettering lives If at this point, you think he is only interested in innovative ideas with little care for how they provide tangible benefits for the present, think again.

Prof Ratti, who is also trained in civil engineering, is involved in projects that enable city dwell-ers to lead more sustainable life-styles. That is why he and his team at the MIT SENSEable City Lab are studying how real-time data about the city can be harnessed to change human behaviour for the better.

Capitalising on smart networks created by the ubiquitous use of smartphones, they worked with the Copenhagen Municipality to devel-op the Copenhagen Wheel, a bicycle that stores energy generated when

Clockwise from top: The Digital Water Pavilion in Zaragoza, Spain; water curtains part to allow visitors through; the water droplets can be controlled to create different patterns and text, which is another interactive feature of the Pavilion.

Pho

tos

on

th

is p

age

ww

w.d

wp

.qao

p.n

et

Page 27: Challenge March - April 2013

We need to be able to listen to people’s ideas, we need to be able to share ideas and then creativity can come in a more collective, bottom-up way.

Top: The Copenhagen Wheel, thanks to its ability to detect data such as pollution and traffic congestion levels, enables cyclists to make better decisions in route-planning.

Left: The Flyfire project has the potential to make public communication more dynamic by creating moving 3D light displays.

biking and braking, and releas-es it for moments when the cyclist needs more power. The bike also has sensors to track real-time information like traffic conditions and pollution levels.

Cyclists can then use the informa-tion to plan smoother and more en-vironmentally friendly routes with their smartphones.

Teamwork worksThough it seems he has no problem coming up with ideas on his own, Prof Ratti stresses the importance of teamwork during brainstorming.

“We need to be able to listen to people’s ideas, we need to be able to share ideas and then creativity can come in a more collective, bot-tom-up way,” he says. He tries to make listening and sharing ideas a daily practice wherever he works, whether it is at the MIT SENSE-able City Lab or his architectural design company, carlorattiassociati, which has offices in Turin, London and Boston.

The MIT SENSEable City Lab also has a presence in Singapore. Prof Ratti has been making yearly trips here since 2010 when the Lab start-

ed developing LIVE Singapore!, an open platform that transforms re-al-time information about our city into visualisations (read more about LIVE Singapore! in Challenge Jan/Feb 2012).

Singapore, get crazyAffirming Singaporeans’ eager-ness to try new technologies, Prof Ratti thinks that this country can be an ideal base for urban experi-mentation, such as creating new ar-chitecture that emerges from our changing lifestyles.

For instance, flexible work arrange-ments mean more people are going to work outside the office in the near future. Prof Ratti believes that could translate to designing more open air working spaces with richer greenery.

“In terms of design, Singapore can think a bit more crazily,” he says. After all, thinking out of the box may require us to stretch our imagi-nation – just a little.

OTHER PROJECTS FROM CARLO RATTI:

• During a competition for the London Olympics last year, Prof Ratti and his team came up with the idea of The Cloud, an observation deck consisting of large plastic bubbles on top of 120m-tall towers. It will be an interactive space that displays real-time information, such as weather updates, using LED lights. Though the idea did not materialise for the Olympics, there are ongoing discussions with other major cities in the world to build it in their countries.

• In 2011, the MIT SENSEable City Lab worked with General Electric to analyse data from over 7 million medical records in the United States and create the “Health Infoscape”, which sheds light on seemingly unrelated medical conditions (for example, insomnia could be associated with abnormal weight gain). Researchers are using the data to find out how environmental factors lead to certain illnesses.

Pho

to s

ense

able

.mit

.ed

u/c

op

enh

agen

wh

eel/

Pho

to s

ense

able

.mit

.ed

u/f

lyfi

re/

33Feature

Page 28: Challenge March - April 2013

To ensure the proper handover of a Housing and Development Board (HDB) flat earmarked for demolition under the Selective En bloc Redevelopment Scheme (SERS), HDB off icers often have to channel their inner Sherlock Holmes to track down missing owners.

IT’S A JOB THAT SOUNDS STRAIGHTFORWARD enough. A few years after a block of flats is announced for the SERS, officers from the HDB are tasked to take pos-session of the flats. They make their way to the individual units, hand the former homeowners cheques for compensa-tion and take over the keys. Yet things are not always so simple. Sometimes the owners are nowhere to be found, which means SERS officers then have to double up as investigators in their search for them. In one case, Higher Technical Officer See Cheng San sought out a missing owner’s previous homes and spoke with several people, before he found out that she had moved to Malaysia. He managed to contact her in the end, to his relief. “Because we didn’t give up, we got in touch with these [missing homeowners],” says the 56-year-old, so that they would be informed of their housing status and could receive their compensation.   Officers from the 8-man SERS team liaise with the relatives of these owners – who can be reluctant to help at times – to work out the housing options together.

Homeowners who have run afoul of the law and are im-prisoned get help too, as the unsung heroes from the HDB make multiple trips to the prison to discuss housing issues with them. No matter who the owner is and what he has done, he still has the right to know his housing status and be helped so that he can have a roof over his head, says the team’s leader, Tan Wee Teck. This simple conviction, backed by patience and perseverance, is what moves him and his team to deliver their best service to the public.

DETECTIVES in DISGUISE

Because we didn’t give up, we got in touch with these [missing homeowners].

Text by Heng Yishi Photo by Justin Loh

Page 29: Challenge March - April 2013

35Unsung Heroes

Top, from left: Mr Tan Wee Teck; Mr See Cheng San; Mr Chan Yong Chin and Mr Chua Choon Keong, Eric.

Bottom, from left: Mr Seah Eng Poh; Mr Wee Tien Chwee, Malcom; Mr Chan Chye Chin and Mr Seah Thian Poh, Bobby.

Page 30: Challenge March - April 2013

SENTENCED TO PRISON FOR a drug-related offence, Charles* was expecting to spend his term doing manual labour or helping out at the prison bakery or laundry.

Instead, he was pleasantly surprised to be asked to participate in News Behind Bars (NBB), an internal news programme produced exclusively for Singapore Prison Service inmates and officers at its Multimedia Hub. Charles is now a newscaster, roving reporter and scriptwriter for NBB. “I didn’t realise that the Prison Service offered so many opportunities for on-the-job training,” he says.

NBB began as a radio news programme in 2006, produced by the Kaki Bukit Prison School. Since then, it has evolved into a 20-minute TV news programme, and is now shown for tnightly in al l 13 institutions of the Changi Prison Complex.

THE INSIDE

SCOOPAn initiative from the Singapore Prison Service is preparing inmates for life beyond bars. Challenge

goes behind the prison walls for the story.

Text by Lisa Twang Photos by Norman Ng

*Nam

es o

f th

e in

mat

es h

ave

bee

n c

han

ged

to

pro

tect

th

eir

iden

titi

es.

20/12/2012 11:29 AM

Page 31: Challenge March - April 2013

Scenes from the production process.

mealtimes, it has become so popular with both inmates and officers that some have suggested the programme be expanded to feature more topics per segment.

Going out thereA few former inmates who worked on NBB have gone on to find jobs in the media industry upon release. No wonder Charles and David are excited at the prospect of using their newfound skills when they re-enter the workforce.

“I would love to find a job as a cam-eraman or video editor in the future,” David enthuses . “Edit ing can be tedious sometimes, but there is a great sense of satisfaction from completing an episode. The most memorable story

I have worked on was filming a Prison Volun-teer Apprecia-tion event. The best par t was hea r ing how the volunteers

themselves were touched by our work.”

While Charles does not expect to work in the media industry after his release, he believes his skills from being on NBB will definitely benefit him. “I used to be more camera-shy in the beginning, but [participating in NBB] has improved my presenta-tion skills tremendously. I’m grateful to have had this exper ience, and helping other inmates through their sentences by providing them with out-side news is also personally meaningful to me.”

Providing the insider’s takeUsually, inmates interested in the NBB programme have to undergo a nine-month multimedia training course first. Most of the inmates are selected for the course based on IT skills, prior working experience and academic qualifications.

The training is co-organised by the Singapore Prison Service and the Sin-gapore Corporation of Rehabilitative Enterprises, a statutory board under the Ministry of Home Affairs. Depend-ing on how the inmates perform in the course, they will then be chosen for the NBB programme.

The NBB team currently consists of eight inmates from the Tanah Merah Prison. Programme Executive Siti Sya-hedah Md Sani and her colleagues from the Multi-media Hub work closely with the inmates to pro-duce the episodes.

Each episode of NBB consists of three segments. “Prison Happenings” shows the latest internal updates like the Yel-low Ribbon Fund Star Bursary, “Home Front” presents local news such as Na-tional Day updates, and “Juice Box” is a lifestyle and infotainment news segment depicting innovative ideas and events in Singapore and overseas.

Production begins with the brain-storming process – the team scans the newspapers for news items that would interest inmates and help them rein-tegrate into society upon their release. Once the contents are confirmed, the

script is written and sent for vetting and editing.

Next, the programme is shot in-house at the Multimedia Hub studio. Dur-ing the filming of inmates reporting on the news, officers are on the sidelines, encouraging those who struggle with camera shyness or helping them with pronunciation.

Both camera footage and voiceovers are recorded within a day. Green screen technology allows for roving reporters to be placed at the news scene through skilful video editing. This is where edi-tors and compilers like David* come in. “We combine real-life footage with what we shoot in the studio,” says David. “Special effects and captions are

also added to illustrate the news in a clearer way.”

Meeting deadlines is their greatest challenge in producing the programme, says Ms Syahedah. “We need to work within a tight timeline of three weeks per episode. We also have to factor in the time taken for clearance to ensure each episode is suitable for viewing by inmates.”

Once the final product is completed and approved for viewing, NBB is produced on DVD, with copies distributed to the Prison institutions. Screened during

I used to be more camera-shy in the beginning, but [participating in NBB] has

improved my presentation skills tremendously.

37Feature

Page 32: Challenge March - April 2013

EVERY WEEKDAY BEFORE THE rooster crows, AVA officer Alex Teo is already in his office at the Tuas Checkpoint. Slipping on a brand new isolation gown meant to protect him from infection, the Senior Technical Officer (Border Control) gets ready to inspect the thousands of imported live chickens and ducks that will reach the checkpoint at 5am.

1. Alex rises at 3am on most mornings and is in his office before 5am to prepare for the day ahead. This includes putting on his protective gear. 2. Keeping records of monthly import figures is also an important part of the job. 3. Alex (left) waits for his colleague (right) to verify the Cargo Clearance Permit and Veterinary Health Certificate presented by the driver (in orange) before he starts the inspection.

1

2 3

Soon enough, the first five of many trucks to come – each of them carrying about 1,400 to 4,500 live birds – pull into the compound. Undeterred by the emanating pong, Alex walks up to one truck and peers into a crate of quack-ing ducks. With his trusty yellow torch, he checks for birds that have fallen sick or died during the long hours on the road from Malaysia. If an estimated 3%

of the birds are dead, that could signal a disease outbreak, he says.

After seven years on the job, he has built camaraderie with the truck driv-ers (“when we respect them, they will respect us”). They communicate in Malay, trading friendly banter. The mo-ment he gives an approving nod or a wave of his torch, the drivers get the cue that their trucks have been cleared and proceed to drive off.

“I took up this job [as it is] not stag-nant or monotonous,” says the energetic officer, who left his desk job at the Singapore Police Force to become an inspection officer in 2004. In a typical day, he inspects about 100 trucks, includ-ing those carrying eggs from Malaysia.

So passionate is Alex about his work that even after he has knocked off (on most days, he finishes around 1pm), he still volunteers to be on 24-hour standby for colleagues who need assistance or to inspect late consign-

He’s no QuackAn Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority (AVA) off icer shows

Challenge he is the real deal when it comes to examining live poultry at our borders. Text by Heng Yishi Photos by Zakaria Zainal

Page 33: Challenge March - April 2013

39Perspectives

[I want to live] a life full of challenges, curiosity and adventures.

4. Alex checks that the eggs have been individually labelled with a code that identifies the farm source.5. Alex keeps his eyes peeled for sick and dead birds. A sign that he looks out for? Bird legs sticking up in the air. 6. Ducks, Alex shares, produce large amounts of faeces and are noisier than chickens. 7. An antigen test is conducted on samples taken from dead birds to check for the presence of the avian influenza virus.

4

ments. Having time off to rest, he says, is “immaterial”.

The 50-year-old also readily sacrifices sleep for his job. During a case of animal smuggling, he was called in at 2am to conduct investigations with Immigration and Checkpoints Author-ity officers from the Tuas Checkpoint. Adrenalin-filled moments like these is another reason why Alex lives for his job.

The father of two also relishes new challenges. By the time you read this, Alex would already have moved from

his duties at the Tuas Checkpoint and started work at the Changi Animal and Plant Quarantine Station. This time, he is inspecting animal imports that go through Changi Airport.

“[I want to live] a life full of chal-lenges, curiosity and adventures,” he tells Challenge chirpily.

For an extended story on Alex’s work, go to Challenge Online at www.challenge.gov.sg

5

7

6

Page 34: Challenge March - April 2013

We meet public off icers who have transformed their regular flats into unique living spaces bursting with personality.

Text by Fiona Liaw Photos by Justin Loh

Blast from the past: Mr Teo’s home is like a treasure trove of everyday items used in the good ol’ days. He enjoys collecting relics, from a traditional biscuit tin and old records to an actual trishaw.

Page 35: Challenge March - April 2013

With its traditional Peranakan screen divider, fuchsia sheets and beaded curtain, Mr Teo Zhiliang’s master bedroom is a pretty picture from the Peranakan past. The headboard of his bed is decorated with Peranakan tiles from the late 1800s, similar to the façade of his grandparents’ old shophouse along Victoria Street. At just 30 years old, the Bowen Secondary School teacher describes himself as a nostalgic person. He and his wife, Mrs Teo Siew Hwa, 32, an academic staff at Republic Polytechnic, were inspired by memories of old buildings to re-create similar-looking spaces at home.

Window grilles are replicas of those popu-lar in the 1960s and ’70s and discarded traffic signs adorn the walls. Some items, like the sofa cushion covers, were made by sourcing for vintage prints in old heartland textile shops, but most pieces were donated by family and friends. Mr Teo’s collection of retro items extends to a trishaw that was once a display piece at Changi Airport and a clock that runs on electricity. “The same pieces I treasure might be perceived as worthless to others,” Mr Teo says, so all the better for him, as he continues to uncover jewels that preserve the everyday spaces of time past.

41Life.Style

Page 36: Challenge March - April 2013

Bring together two people with a flair for design and a penchant for things home-made, and the result is a home that is anything but ordinary. Public Service Division Communications Designer Siti Zuraidah, 31, and her visual communica-tions lecturer husband Iskandar, 35, took it upon themselves to design their flat so that they could create their own special space. The end product? Bold colours, simple patterns and textures that give the interiors an edgy, stylish feel.

Statement-piece furniture such as a guitar-shaped coffee table and its match-ing pick-shaped seat, and a shoe cabinet re-fashioned from an old locker, complete the look. True to the DIY spirit, the couple channelled their love for typography into designing a wall with an optimistic decal that reads, “Today is going to be a better day”. In the dining room, a brick wall creates a loft-like, homey feel. It is only upon moving closer that you realise the “brick wall” is actually an effect created by meticulously sticking masking tape on a maroon wall, and paint. The couple plans to keep redecorating their private space. They enjoy the process, they say, to make a home that is uniquely theirs.

Craving for fresh designs: The couple is constantly thinking of how to inject new creative ideas into their space. Ms Zuraidah tells Challenge that she is considering repainting her home!

Page 37: Challenge March - April 2013

Tanjong Katong Primary School teacher Rae Wong and sales manager Adrian Chew, both 35, met at the age of 13 and developed a shared love for nature. Today, their home is a reflection of this passion. Outside, Chinese evergreens, dumb canes and money plants deck the corridor. Indoors, the green theme continues. The couple is exceptionally proud of their colourful terrariums – easy-to-maintain plant enclosures that they created them-selves. The plants, Mr Chew explains, add a finishing touch to the yellow lighting, whitewashed walls and liberal use of wood, contributing to a warm, cosy atmosphere.

Ms Wong and her sister also painted a tree, freehand, on the dining room wall. About eight animals, including a rabbit and an owl, are hidden amongst the branches. But the most special feature is that just half the tree is painted, making it visible as a whole only through its reflection in the glass panels next to it. Ms Wong says this “adds to the illusion of depth” and spaciousness created by the mirrors. Such artful design and manipulation of space allows the couple to overcome the flat ’s size limitations, while recreating the tranquillity of being close to nature in their home.

Earth lovers: The couple adores nature so much that they even have a painting of a tree at home. They also cultivate their own little green universes in the form of terrrariums.

43 Life.Style

Page 38: Challenge March - April 2013

Well aware of the sensitivities surrounding the recent corruption scandals, you know which items require declaration and which do not*. Aiseh!

Mr Tzai (zai)

H o k k i e n f o r c o o l

MissBlur

Sotong(soh-tong)

I need to account for the

gift? What's there to declare?

It's just a nice gesture from others what.

M a l a y f o r c o n f u s e d

Your heart pounds whenever you are presented with a gift and your first thought is: “Must declare anot?” Seeing how troubled you are, your vendors or guests almost feel bad for giving it to you in the first place.

After a meeting, you’d rather walk to the nearest MRT than take a ride offered by your vendor. Anyway, our public transport fares are cheaper than those of Hong Kong, London and New York.

Even having a cup of coffee with the vendor is a brew for corruption. You don't want to end up having to lim kopi at CPIB.

hmmm...

Miss Kalang Kabut(kah-lang kah-bote)

MisS JinKiasi(gin kee-ah-see)

Mr Kiasi (kee-ah-see)

M a l a y f o r p a n i c k i n g

H o k k i e n f o r v e r y c o w a r d l y

H o k k i e n f o r c o w a r d l y

* Check out the guidelines in the Public Service Instruction Manuals.

Disclaimer: This notice will in no way help you in your career.

Definitions and pronunciations borrowed from Talkingcock.com’s The Coxford Singlish Dictionary. Kam sia!

How do public officers respond when it comes

to receiving gifts or favours at work?

Challenge’s Department of Eye-Power-Only

presents its observations.

Need We Say More?Here’s where we let the humour loose, and learn to laugh at ourselves a little more. Have ideas or jokes about the Public Service? Email us: [email protected]

FEAR

$ignsof

The Irreverent Last Page44

Page 39: Challenge March - April 2013

was established in March 2012 to connect people wanting to share a ride by enabling carpooling and taxi-pooling through its website and mobile app.

a. sharetransport.sgb. fareshare.sgc. transportshare.sgd. sharethefare.sg

Submit your answers byApril 3, 2013 at:

Challenge Onlinewww.challenge.gov.sg

Please include your name, email address, agency and

contact number.

All winners will be notified by email.

Pairs ofMovie

Vouchersto be won

1.

is an initiative by the Singapore Law Society’s Pro Bono Services Office to match non-profit organisations with lawyers who want to help them.

a. Project Legal Helpb. Legal Assistance Projectc. Legal Aid Projectd. Project Law Help

2.

“Safe food, healthy animals and plants for Singapore; trusted and respected globally” is the vision of .

a. Health Promotion Boardb. Agri-Food & Veterinary Authorityc. National Environment Agencyd. Ministry of the Environment & Water Resources

3.

Rent Tycoons is Singapore’s first peer-to-peer online renting portal where you can .

a. list your items for rentb. rent itemsc. request for items that you cannot findd. All of the above

4.

The is an initiative by the National Library Board to crowdsource memories of Singapore from the public.

a. Memory Lane Projectb. Singapore Memory Projectc. Our Memory Projectd. Singapore Story Project

5.

CONGRATULATIONSto the winners of the

January/February 2013 Trivia Quiz

Loh Yin LingMTI

Pam KrishCustoms

Ernest PhoonICA

Ranelle TayNHCS

Sushma Prahbu NEA

Page 40: Challenge March - April 2013

IDA-0002-mag-295x220-S2P.pdf 1 21/1/13 6:42 PM