Netizens praise Dr Vivian Balakrishnan for visiting Tanglin Mall
June 5th, 2011 | 
Author: PAP Environment Minister Dr Vivian Balakrishnan won praises from netizens for taking the trouble to visit Tanglin Mall, the site of a major flooding this morning.
A netizen Davian Lee took a snapshot of Dr Vivian talking to stallholders and passer-bys at Tanglin Mall in afternoon after the flood waters were cleared:
[Source: Facebook]
“This Minister seems to be taking ownership of the issue. Hopefully we can resolve this soon,” he commented.
Susan Liang concurred:
“Kudos to him for going down n checking out the situation on a Sunday !!! Lets hope he can work with PUB experts n work out a solution!”
Janice Loke added:
“VB thank you for having the ‘heartware’. Well done.”
Others are more skeptical and questioned if Dr Vivian, an eye doctor by profession, is the suitable person to solve Singapore’s perennial flooding problems:
Andrea Teo Hui Fang wrote:
“Let’s just hope that this isn’t another one of those PR moves that still end up in nothing.”
Amelia Lee has given up on the rampant flooding:
“It is pointless if he just show up and speak but the problem keep on occuring.”
Lim C K thought a civil engineer may be better suited to lead the Environment Ministry:
“Its a good start & the right thing to do is to go to the ground to understand better. However, I do think that a minister with engineering background (especially civil engrg) might be better suited to lead this ministry.”
This is the third time in a year that Orchard was hit by flash floods. Last year’s floods were attributed to a clogged drain and since then PUB had put up barricades along the roads to prevent the flood water from seeping through.
Today’s downpour wasn’t exactly that heavy and lasted no more than 3 hours, yet it caused major flooding in several parts of Singapore. The problem is probably more deep-seated and systemic than originally thought with some netizens speculating that the Marina Barrage as well as the construction of more buildings and MRT stations in the congested city area may be the possible culprits.
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Poorly-rated. Like or Dislike:
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good that the minister are showing seriousness of trying to understand the grievances of businesses loss by such flood, significantly, there should be an end to such cause of flood or otherwise impact shall prevail further and the visit shall be meaningless
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17
another wayang again lah…
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
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I am wondering will we ever get any answer on the reason for the flash flood. I do not wish to hear any thing like no amount of engineering can solve such problem from someone who has no engineering background. Will there be any compensation? What is the amount of money lost during such flood? I guess it will take 50 years to find out. No doubt Mr Vivian should be praised for his effort, let’s just cross our fingers will this once every 50 yrs flood come again after this visit. If PUB has problem addressing the problem, please get someone from the international authorities for help. We need a world class drainage to solve such problem.
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Take a look at the left of the picture; the 2 ladies writing are probably reporters and not counting the one took the picture.
Same thing when he ’surveyed’ the drain where the poor child was swept away and drowned. Got someone to report and take picture as well.
So, does that mean that he would only appear with reporters to show that he’s ‘doing’ something about it?
Noticed….he came to talk to the stallholders AFTER the flooding is gone and the placed have been cleaned and dry?
No point showing up and get your picture taken and get it reported in the MSM. We just want to know what is he going to do about it.
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
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Dr Vivian should go to Tokyo, study the deep underground tunnel that keeps that city flood free. Dig a deep huge tunnel within a 5 km radius from CK Tang, Orchard Rd. Don’t worry we can afford it if budget over-run. We have the money. It will not cost $350m. We need the deep huge tunnel to let the rain water drain into the tunnel downward fast by gravity to keep the surface drains from being flooded within these 5 km radius.
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
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This shows we need an opp.
If the SDP had not won 40% in HL-BT GRC, do u think he would bother?
Unfortunately, the voters did not kick him out.
My main worry is that he will think of something fanciful again.
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
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if the head honcho is intelligent he
would have chosen someone with a relavant
education and experience background for the
job.. just like any other establishment..
simply put no brain leader… we have been
lampooned for another 5 years.. prepare to
buy and inflatable raft and carry it along
everytime it rains…the FT’s are so use to
this as they come from countries that flood
occurs regularly and they will thrive in
Singapore well while we SINKIES will drown..
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Maybe Sissy Vivian thinks that longkang issues is more easier to solve than the blown out sports issues
So henceforth, you can see him down there. For Sports, only need to appear once in every 4 years will do liao 
That’s my 2 cents.
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If the head honco is intelligent and sharp
he would have employed someone with the
relevant education and experience to head
the dept… unfortunately we have been lampooned
by the 60 % to suffer this incompetent leadership
Be prepared to invest in an inflatable raft to
carry around whenever it rains.. FT’S will survive
as they come from countries with such situations
which occur regularly and are equip to survive
we SINKIES unfortunately will drown…
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i think the netizens who praised VB must be PUB staffs, hahaha!
see see look look is one thing, able to solve the problem is another…
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
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This is a good time for VB to redeem himself. Hopefully to resolve the issue he does not go over budget again.
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visiting after cleanup is not solving problem
should meeting with pub experts will be more effective.
pay millions to WALKABOUT and LISTEN when everything is over, i like this kind of job .
SHOULD BE THERE AT THE FIRST INSTANCE WHEN HAPPENED
BULLSHIT WAYANG B’SHITMAN
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MR VB , FLOODING IN ORCHARD OR ANY PART OF SINGAPORE IS A PROBLEM NEEDED TO BE SOLVE AND RECTIFY BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY FLOODING OF FOREIGN TALENT SHOULD BE ON THE TOP OF THE LIST THAT NEEDED IMMEDIATE ATTENTION WOULDN’T YOU AGREE WITH ME MR. VB . DON’T DISTRACT SINGAPOREAN AWAY FROM THE IMPORTANT ISSUE THAT REALLY NEEDED RECTIFICATION , IF YOU LOOK INTO THE FT ISSUE AND OTHER ISSUES CONCERNING THE LIVELIHOOD OF SINGAPOREAN IT WILL BE MUCH MORE APPRECIATED , I’M SURE SINGAPOREAN WILL AGREE WITH ME .
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I have to applaud the PAP for setting our expectations so low over the years. Such that, the mere act of a Minister doing a job which is part of his basic job descriptions now sets the netizens all aflutter. We are Daft.
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I am skeptical too. Dr. V B actually copying Japanese ministers’ style, China PM’s style by personally visiting the disasters hit area.
He would not have a chance to copy cat if had in the first place, assumed the responsibility of YOG and step down.
His action need not be praised, it is his job to do that, he is being paid millions, don’t forget. To visit the site is his basic duty. Did he come with body guards ?
Nonetheless, lets see if his visit actually turn into some real solution soon.
The flooding is not new, it has happened even before he took over. Why wait until it rains to check out by which time, damage had already taken place. Good show, but frankly, I doubt if the billions dollars sitting in government kitty pot will be utilized to solve this problem, which I am very sure, will recur again and again.
In short, I just do not trust this man, Dr. VB.
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How do you explain this ?
The government transferred Yaacob Ibrahim (a Civil Engineer) from the Environment ministry to Arts and Communication and have an eye doctor in charge of the Environment ?
If Yaacob Ibrahim, a civil engineer couldnt fix the flood problem, how is V Balakrishnan, an eye doctor expected to do it ?
Quite mind boggling. Hellooooo… Anyone home ?
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all the above picture shows is the mainstream media hoodlums at work.
where are the hawkers?
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VB treasures his job so he has no choice but to show up. He cannot afford to relax as Pinky is in no mood to make another public apology. VB will have to call for a meeting with PUB engineers to solve this flood problem as quickly as possible.
PS: VB may try to get the engineers to harness this flood water and turn it into potable water or sell it as raw water to China which is facing droughts in the Central and Northern provinces.
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The flood is bad news to malls and road users but good news for crony capitalism. What Vivian and his cronies will do is to construct more canals or raising the height of pavements to prevent flooding to malls. In return he and his cronies will be sharing their side money make from this project. And this project will be at the expense of the public tax money, but the flooding in this nation will still prevail. This is how our money will flow whereby one man gain is another man lost.
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the reason for him to be there is because of aljunued grc
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Singaporeans ah,,,very clever everything got answer one, can give every solution or complain but cannot do, must get FT to do the cleaning. Do also wrong don’t do also wrong…..you buggers ah, I don’t know lah, wait till to lick your wounds, we gonna kill our selves.
Vote to PAP lah………. Singapore government use Singaporean Indian to do cleaning up water screed up by Yacooob get Vivian to do, WKG screwed up mat selamat get Shanmugam to do, Finicial crisis get Thmarn to do………….they all try their best and try to please the majority Chinese cannot not leh…….so how.
Let’s hope KBW – hope clear the HBD issues and education system – civil servant can do better why don’t ask for professor from NUS to helm education.
You guys are the one give so much space to PAP…….now royally screwed. Talk lah and talk somemore
In my office Singaporean , anyway Singaporean means Chinese mah….
complain every time….my boss is owner Chinese Singaporean he bring Indian for simple job, he tell me he very fed up with local…..I said boss dont say all about Singaporean work very hard all the time no time to relax – on leave also work – but you also very very strict…..ang mo also scared, we have ang mo work for us as COO, or Indian meek and quietly do the job and stay all-night…..so how dah…..brother and sisters
Stop whinng and show support during ballot – want to make change make chnages , scared of everthying, u see in India – they think government corrupted , onion price go up, govt is voted out…..can singaporean do….I vote for WP at Ajuined ..you vote for who……?????
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flipper, hope you are speaking in jest otherwise your brains must surely have flipped backwards.
Ministers are paid millions and Sunday is their off-day?
They are supposed to be on standby mode 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and 365 days a year!
Even if a Minister is having a good time on his bed in the middle of the night with his darling wife and halfway through his nocturnal business, he still has to throw aside his wife, put on his clothes and rush back to official business during emergencies and crises.
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What ever happened to the flood alleviation programme?
Sometime back we were told that they have made tremendous progress in the drainage system.
Don’t give further excuses if there is another flash flood and many areas get flooded again including Orchard Road shopping malls.
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Let’s give Miss Vivian a chance, now that we can confirm this isn’t a once in 50 years freak event, definitely something is very wrong. Either the Marina Barage has a design flaw that caused it not to throw rain waters into the sea fast enough or land developments are causing rain waters to not go anywhere. I would like to think that it’s a combination of the above 2 that has resorted to the current state. I would be surprised if these next 5 years Vivian would do nothing especially when KBW is busy changing everything that’s wrong.
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Inspecting the scene to understand the problem is what is EXPECTED for him(VB) as minister in charge…
SOLVING/HELPING TO SOLVE the problem is also EXPECTED of him(VB)…
CONDUCTING MPS and WALK ABOUTs to understand the ground is also EXPECTED OF MPs…
Can someone tell me if anyone is stepping in for SIM ANN when she is not around???
PLEASE DO NOT TELL THE PEOPLE THAT U NEED 5 YEARS TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM!!!
RAISING THE ROADS ALONG ORCHARD FAILED and the rain this morning HAS PROVEN IT…
my DEAR MP may i know WHAT IS THE NEXT STEP? AND MAY I KNOW HOW LONG DO U NEED???
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@ flipper,
He is paid Millions by tax payers. He better be on 24/7, that’s the least of our expectations. I’m just surprised that someone being so callous about the poor and with a “I can’t be bothered” attitudes towards the poor with his “you want them to eat at hawker, foodcourt or restaurant” would change his attitude overnight to be so “caring”.
Anyway, I hope he don’t just show up as publicity stunt but really do something to prevent future flooding. This is not even monsoon season with continuous days of raining. It is just a one hour rain and flooding is at such horrid state. Don’t just be another show face but no action.
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Without the 40% voters will our ministers go to the ground? Without the 40% voters will government change their policy?
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Its a systemic problem and requires more time for investigative works and remedial processess. Criticisms should be levied where it is due and not always shooting from the hip…
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Yes I do see them on Sundays. Maybe you are the bloody idiot for not noticing, you dog.
It is said that the smart people are the minority, and the dumb, the majority.
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@ Flipper
Your apple polishing for VB reflects your shallowness as a toad in a well.
About not being paid for working on off-days and showing his dedication
in attending to the problem.
Mr.Wen of China flown in to quake struck Szechuan while the tremors were still recurring with the possibility of another earthquake.
Why have you not compared their efforts,risks and the glaring difference on their salaries?
It is no surprise that the pap despite their many deplorable deeds and policies are still in power today owes much to people like you.
Sensible people with average intelligence will be outraged by your sickening and blind loyalty.
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Now that he has finished visiting and got his photo opportunity, what is he going to do on Monday? Maybe another media photo op with some engineers in a room to brainstorm solutions and then silence.
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Helo @flipper, your mother appointed Seamstress for The Environment and Water is it? Will she go down too on Sunday if your brainless head also flooded with unnecessary anti-opposition obsession?
You definitely more than 60.1% brain dead retard!
VB go down cos now atas area like Orchard a lot of rich power people will not tolerate such incompetence. Act act to show. Useless Viva the Diva.
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
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for a million-dollar minister, we expect him to swim and dwell in the flood to see how irritating and frustrating a flood can cause. Without those experiencing those inconvenience, how is Vivian going to understand the pain of lesser mortals ?
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One small step for PAP, one big step for netizens!
Yo wake up….he is there to wayang only….let’s all really watch when it rains and floods again BIG TIME! WE don’t want TALK…we want ACTION!
One thing is for sure…the online people have a VOICE now and the PAP is getting afraid….very, very afraid:-)
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redeem himself first by resigning immediately.
not every doctor makes a good politician.
vb is no che gueverra, the doctor to be.
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Praise for what? First Lui Tuck Yew, now VB. Don’t these daft youths realised they are sucked into such dramas? I had to agree with LKY.
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vb ’supporters’ from hawkers?
where ? where? where?
the picture shows only his bodyguards, a couple of media twerps, a blue muppet show doll trying but failed to draw a crowd and one or two on-lookers.
hahahahahahahaha…..pathetic, to say the least.
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Do you think he has got a choice? Anyway, it is just post election gimmicks. What can he do that Inche Yacoob cannot do??
Wait for one year or to to pass and we’ll see the same arrogance.
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http://news.xin.msn.com/en/singapore/article.aspx?cp-documentid=4894379
This writer for sure never work on weekend. Don’t even no that there are many Sinpoporean who need to work even they are not paid on weekend or even they are on holiday. What an idiot!
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Gods of the world now say, SINCE VIVIAN VISITED TANGLIN MALL, THERE WILL BE NO MORE FLOOD IN SINGAPORE!
The loud sound of thunder today morning must have awoken Vivian too. He must have decided to wait for the flood water to recede before sight-seeing; or he too must be reading criticisms in Temasek Review before embarking on such an expedition.
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flipper is a fag.
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how do you know he didnt /wasnt shopping nearby?
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When initially Orchard Road became flooded, the PAP government quickly came out with an excuse that it was due to a clogged drain and that PUB will be monitoring the drains closely.
The then, Environment and Water Resources Minister, Yaacob Ibrahim even declared that such a flooding only occurs once every 50 years and give assurance that the drainage systems are being upgraded continuosly.
But after more widespread floodings, MM Lee incoherently declared that “no amount of engineering can prevent floodings” and blame God as the culprit.
So does that mean that we have to live with further such floodings and nothing more can be done?
Does it also mean that our multi millionaires ministers can thereby ignore the plight of Singaporeans being affected by the floodings?
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can anyone identify at least the two female journalists?
they have been seen in almost every pap walk – abouts and the election rallies.
these journalist lolittas are busy busy at ‘work’ churning out bedtime stories for the pap, ya?
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when did senior execs get paid overtime?
show me any employment act from singapore and around the world.
stop the b.s., creep , or shall i say, pap bootlicker.
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Dr Vivian Balakrishnan is a medical doctor by training. Please give him a break. It takes four years to make an engineer. It will take the same time to unmake a doctor and make him think like an engineer. Biology and engineering are two completely different fields.
Furthermore as an ophthalmologist he needs to see things for himself. He just can’t trust that the eyesight of others are working. He has seen enough problems with people’s eyesight to know that the human eye is unreliable and can fail.
Once he has gathered the information he will feed back the same to all his engineers telling them why Orchard Road is flooding. His engineers will be told from his observation when it rained heavily it will flood. It is an Act of God.
To be fair to his team of engineers please give them time to understand Dr Vivian Balakrishnan and come up with a good reason why heavy flooding during the monsoon season can’t be stopped.
We mustn’t be so skeptical of the good doctor. He is doing his best in a field he has no expertise in. We should be thankful he is ambitious enough to think he is an expert in all other fields as well. Let me rephrase that. We should be thankful he is trying his best to justify his high pay.
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I wouldn’t go so far as to say praise him. It is his job in the first place to go see what’s happening. And until he can do something about it or propose something, I will take a wait and see attitude. PAP MPs had been wayang-ing long enough for me not to trust them on face value. I want to see results.
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remember the flood that flooded orchard road? the road the road to prevent flooding at orchard, some of us did questioned what would happen to the flood water if those once in 50 yrs rain occurred again, here you go this is the answer.
by the way, is there any comments from our new environmental minister? did he comment? or the media did not dare to put up his comments?
we want a singaporean first singapore not a pap or foreigner first singapore.
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“Showing” your face and “getting things done” are two different things.
Can’t imagine some Pappy supporter( @flipper )…going down on a Sunday to show his “face” and he is already “satisfied & sold ”
Yet calling the 40% Daft ….Boy? is this Guy for “Real” ?
” Tau Noun Boh Ho say ” / otak tak butel ???
Perhaps he has “Flipped” or maybe “Flip over & sodomised ardy “
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Singaporeans are so easily placated with a bit of PR and spin. Problem is the floods are still happening. What are doing about it? Maybe the Environment Minister can provide sandbags for those living in the flood prone areas!
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A good start; they care. Just wait and see how long will this wayang last.
i don’t understand why suddenly there are so many flood in Singapore. Can the government explain to us; In term of rain intensity, what are the differences between this morning flood our normal rainfall in Singapore the past 10 years.
I suspects they could have made a serious planning error, and has leads to all these recent floods. So far, i feel that all their explanation are so lame, just hope that they are not trying to cover up their past mistakes.
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With so much development taking place the water table in sg is raising. The rainwater is not able to run off. The marina barrage is suppose to pump the water out to the sea when the level rises was this done? The few flooding happen when rain started early in the morning did someone caught napping? Is there an auto sensor to activate the pumps? Or the water are to precious to throw out to the sea?
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Dr Vivian Balakrishnan is my Hero.
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60.1% used their eye to see but are blinded by stamp, the rest of us used our heart to see and no stamp or anything can blind our heart. hardworking indeed, so hardworking that flooding on orchard road again and 50 yrs have gone by so quickly? hahaha time do fly very very fast in this little red dot.
we want a singaporean first singapore not a pap or foreigner first singapore
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Wow, he (VB) now blame it on changing weather! If only Singapore starts to snow I will then agree with him ….
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Got to give credit where credit is due and have to give people a chance! Its quite nice of him to walk around. He should take part of his $3m pay and perhaps start a small charity fund for flood victims as a token!
I think its a good start. I think we have a right to know where it went wrong, someone needs to be accountable for this fark up, fix it, admit it, remember it, lets move on.
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Seems like Cookie monster is not too happy with VB too.
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How does the mrt tunnel keep itself from getting flooded? Is there a way to tap on that technology to solve this problem? There must be some kind of parallel canal that’s pumping the water out, just like our underground road tunnels
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what happened to the investigations for the YOG food poisoning??any results??what caused the food poisoning??who is the caterer??what actions will be taken to prevent a recurrence??Pls VB, address these issues before you take care of the flooding issues.
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Folks,
No need to praise sissy vivian lah. He is being paid very highly to do his job, so just make sure he get his job done liao will do
Hopefully, not like the previous ministry he was in, blown until making all netizens beh tahan. Wait until he really proven results in this current ministry, then praise, otherwise, it is not necessary. Afterall, he is being paid millions a month by us taxpayers’ who is his boss to watch his performance to be done in this issue yet
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I can see the seriousness of PM Lee to institute reform and take a tough stand to make sure all the ministers accountable to their ministry, address the people concerns and walk the ground. I think is a really good start and efforts to see Dr Vivian responding so quickly to the situation, a very different one from the previous cabinet. I sincerely hope the efforts is genuine and sustainable for the full term, and certainly hope the continue actions will give Singaporean the political reform we are starving for.
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The solution of the problem is further away. If it flooded in Orchard road dont try to solve the problem there. I think I found the solution, The high tide today was at 1306pm at 2.6M !!!Its very high tide today. so tide was already very high from 11 am.
So to solve the problem you have to look at where the drainage from orchard road is flowing out and install gates, these gates are actuated by water pressure and no electricity is needed, so that operation is relaible.
I am very disappointed that a man I so admired for being so intelligent can make such a useless defeatist statement “No amount of engineering can prevent flooding.” I’ll take the challenge to solve it and design the system for not a minister’s pay, not half a minister’s pay, not an MP pay nor PS pay, but for free because this is my country and I must serve it.
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Oh, Vivian was on the way doing her shopping in Tanglin Mall. OMG! Why don’t go to the place where the student (God bless him and his family) died and check it out yourself.
Even PAP or Lee Kuan Yew owned AsiaOne reported that Drains where student drowned still accessible. yesterday but today the headline changed to Drain railings adequate for now: PUB. So still nothing done but well, at least they come out and talk and wayang. Kudos to the reporter though, he did a good job here. http://www.asiaone.com/News/AsiaOne%2BNews/Singapore/Story/A1Story20110604-282375.html
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Can’t help but reflect on this very very wet Sunday:
Shopping centers submerged in floods
Roads become like rivers
Work place awash with FTs
PRs have their feet on two boats
Citizens drowning in unpaid home loans
And a newbie MP who seems to be still wearing wet diapers.
Don’t know whether(weather?) to laugh or cry . Haha
Thanks to the 60.1% indeed.
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<<>>
Maybe he didn’t want to go there earlier because he was afraid to get his expensive shoes wet?
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LOL.Visit flood site already big deal meh? If you paid any specialised drainage engineer 10per cent of Vivian Bola’s pay,he sure sprint there in Olympics record time man!
For heaven’s sake, give credit only he can truly solve the recurring problem of floods lah,not just being present for the Press to “hype” PAP millionsters like him lah!
It’s like asking a VIP to visit a critically-ill patient to express concern instead of sending a medical specialist to review the condition lor.
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It’s nice that he goes down, but honestly, I expect that if a Minister or at least the head of the PUB. That’s your job and I’m already overpaying you. I guess this is what they meant when they said that policies had to be implemented but they needed to get them out to the public better.
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Show face for awhile and then go back to his Sunday off routine. He had just gain some easy trust.
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To be exact, they only start work on the fifth year.
You are still a dog and slavery to them no matter how hard you carry their balls.
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I think most Singaporeans now are appreciative of what u are trying to do as the new minister. At least seen to be doing something positive and conforting the tenants at the mall.But something must be done to prevent flooding at these flood prone areas now. We don’t seem to have such floodings at these areas previously but now more frequent than usual. Obviously it is attributable to poor drainage in highly concenrted places.
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instead of running and not solving the prolem here and there for donkeys years when floods occur, will the govt solve this problem cited below which is unlike floods not an act of god?
=====================================================
thamby perumal:
June 3, 2011 at 10:33 pm (Quote)
The Scarecrow:
This TPL saga has put the police into a quagmire. Hopeful they don’t go stomping their feet if they cannot resolve thisanytime soon.
Itis a case of what Hamlet said, To be or not to be – as in, “ To Charge or not to Charge”.
Whatever it is, there must be JUSTICE at the end of the road! Everyone’s watching. It is the last thing you want to be now, as a policeman.
IT ALSO SHOWS THE WHOLE POLICE FORCE IS IMPLICATED AND INCRIMINATED
IN THIS DENIAL OF JUSTICE TO ALL SINGAPOREANS BY THE POLICE DELAY.
IN TRUTH, IT IS ACTUALLY THE POLICE CHIEF ALONE WHO IS NOW REPONSIBLE TO MAKE SURE THE POLICE FORCE IS NOT THROWN INTO DISARRAY.
THE HOME AFFAIRS MINISTER BEING A PAP LEADER, HE SHOULD KNOW WHAT JUSTICE IS AND WHETHER HE SHOULD PROTECT THE INTEGRITY OF THE WHOLE POLICE FORCE.
WILL THESE LEADERS MAKE SINGAPORE WORTH DEFENDING FOR THE FUTURE GENERATION OF SINGAPOREANS OR WILL THEY SQUANDER AWAY THIS VERY OPPORTUNITY AND ISOLATE SINGAPORE’S DEFENDERS ON THE HARD TRUTH THAT JUSTICE DELAYED IS JUSTICE DENIED?
============================================
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any body home, pap?
nature had been kind to help you wayang.
have you been kind and fair to bring justice to all singaporeans?
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Either vivian or yacobb has to resign.
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MR.VB , YOU DON’T HAVE TO LOOK FAR FOR HELP TO SOLVE THIS FLOODING PROBLEM . YOUR PAP PARTY HAVE IMPORTED SO MANY FT , I’M SURE THAT THERE ARE FT ENGINEER WHO CAN HELP YOU , SINCE THE PAP TALK SO HIGHLY OF THEM OR IS IT YOU KNOW BETTER THAN THE SINGAPOREAN THAT THEY HAVE NO SUBSTANCE AND DARE NOT ENGAGE THEM . PLEASE DO LET SINGAPOREAN KNOW IF YOU HAPPEN TO FIND ONE OUT OF THE FEW HUNDRED THOUSAND FT HERE TO SOLVE YOUR FLOOD PROBLEM , HAPPY HUNTING AND THE BEST OF LUCK , HO HO HO
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I d’ont mean to be unappreciative of VB trying to correct his past. It is not a question of not giving him the benefit of the doubt. But this flooding is not a simple problem. It is a technical problem of gargantuan proportions. It is an ecological issue that requires significant management across different boundaries. Building or removing any structures to combat the rain will inevitably have an effect somewhere else. In other words, it is way beyond VB or just MOE to deal with. LHL has under estimated the gravity of this problem by assigning an incompetent dud like VB to tackle it. He will live to regret his poor judgment.
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Our is made caused flood…which the govt denied….
Don’t compare China/Japan. They were natural disaster…..
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the way i see it:
at least, he is better than yakult
there is nothing much anyone can do about the weather pattern. i strongly feel that global warming has indeed, taken effect in this century.
anyway, is that cookie monster among the audience in the photo?
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aiyoh… resign resign resign… you think resign will solve anything meh? look at the amount of rain this morning? it is quite unnatural for Singapore you know… any one can predict tt will happen meh? and you know… prepare for any possible flood needs money. so if we move all the money to make the preparations for like typhoon level rainfall (it may happen…) but then it never rains as heavily anymore, then isn’t tt money wasted? and the money cld hv been better used for senior citizens, and needy Singaporeans.
but nvm. let’s prepare for all possible disasters anyway. so let’s for possible Richter 9.9 earthquake. and sudden volcanic eruption. and a meteor strike. and let’s not pay our Ministers to raise the money. but tt’s not enough. so let’s not pay our civil servants as well. and let’s raise taxes to 80%. then i think we’ll hv enough money… ok?
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I can assure you there will be floor once in a while even after all this, advanced as USA, they cannot prevent flood, they can only minimize flood. It is risk management. Do you want to spend 1 billion dollar to prevent thing that happen every 50 years? Do you buy another car just in case your car broke down? Japan very advanced right? they also do not expect nuclear plant failed to cool down.
It is risk management. If PUB spend to much $ to prevent floor, no flood. then confirm got “smart pple” questioned why spend so much. If i am PAP, i will appoint those who claim it is easy to solve as special project leader and see how they solve it.
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12
All it takes is for the oppos to win 40% and
Vivien is down in Orchard Road in a flash to
show that he is on top of the situation
(iow wayang). Why? ‘Cos he’s scared shit of
facing an Aljunied phenomenon dat’s why.
I can only imagine what he’ll do if the oppos
had won 45%. Vivien would set up camp in
Orchard Road to await the floods!
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Dumbhead Flipper, U are such a stupid fool idiot blinded by just 1 stupid sunday visit that u conclude ‘Alls Well Ends Well’. Hey, 1 sunday visit does not mean anything if flooding will be declared a common occurence where Singaporeans are expected to ‘live with it & don’t complain, it is a common phenomenon’.
The visit has to happened
-because of the 40% voters!
-because the eroding support towards the government!
-because the wide cyber coverage in politics!
-because of the negative perception they garnered after GE2011!
-because they caanot depend on dumbhead like you!(only know how to praise)
-else come GE2016, these breed of people will be extinct!
I bet if not because of the above, VB would rather be snoring all the way man on a cool, lazy Sunday morning!
Hey Flipper, you should not share the ‘negative limelight’ with the opposition by putting the opposition on the same platform. That smells, stinks and a very cheap way to score points! That is grotesque, bro!
Btw, if I am paid 1 million as my salary(I’m not asking more), hey what is waking up on a cool lazy sunday morning man? It is not every Sunday, maybe once in 50 years….my ‘ROI’ will be recovered in hours bro!
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Weather patterns don’t change overnight i.e. in one year.
It takes decades of persistent, gradual change.
There is a big engineering screw up somewhere.
What changed in the last one year?
Marina Barrage.
Looks like we will have to overspend our water budget by another $300 million dollars to fix this.
Good thing we have a Minister who has some experience in this area.
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Obviously u are not being head before. The pple on top dont need to be subject matter expert, just need to make right decision. If u get an engineer to be head, i gunrantee it will be over budget and worse than YOG.
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7 
1
Time to eat humble pie.
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11 
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anybody read the news on channelnewsasia.com? PUB has explained the reason for flash floods – due to intense rain!!!
DUH???!!!
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Whats happening in singapore ??
He appear , He wayang!! he dun appear , he bo chup!!
I can see a no. of name callings in TRE but so far any solution??? Oh ya…. we are not pay millions hor!! We are not FT hor!!
Oh ya…. we are only the 40% hor…shld leave the job of prob solving to the 60.01%!!!
WAKE UP SINGAPORE…. GE OVER!!can we just move on and see what will happen for the next 5 years.. If they did a better job , kudos to u guys.. if not… boot them out!!
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Did his lackeys prepare a gondola to take him there?
Why 3.00pm when the place is already cleaned and dried up – what is left there to see? He should have rushed down during the flooding to witness it himself. Just another PR exercise imo.
And WOW is it a 100 years already?
I thought they said flood happens once every 50 years!
Wait till the rainy season starts properly.
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No need to praise Vivian Balakrishnan. This is his job. Do you praise someone who is just doing his job and do not even know the root of the problem? I have seen worst heavy rainfalls in my life for the past over 50 years. Actually the reason for the continuing and persistent flood is very simple. The digging and building of train steel tunnels have prevented the rain water from seeping into the grounds. This will definitely become worst as more and more underground steel tunnels are built. Next we may have to worry is the building of the nuclear plants if the govt goes ahead with their plans.
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Flipper: What is the point to see the PAP MPs or Ministers turned up after all these incidents??? FOR WHAT????
We don’t want the Ministers to bring whole bunch of grassroot leaders and reporters to tell Singaporeans they were there after the incidents. WE WANT THE MINISTERS TO BRING US THE SOLUTIONS!
Minister Lui turned up at Balestier after the Indonesian boy was killed. Can he bring back the life of the child after he showed up?
Minister V.B. turned up at Tanglin Mall, can he stop the lose suffered by the retail shops?
If the Ministers have to turn up for all these incidents, then something is very very wrong! We want solutions.
Note: What is the reasons you want oppositions to turn up? Will you praise them? I doubth so. When they didn’t show up, does it mean they didn’t care? How did you know they were not one of those trapped in the flood?
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PAP de facto leader LKY said: “No amount of engineering can prevent flooding.”
Hope that the PAP have the engineering to stop the flooding of FT.
We can accept the act of god but not the act of intended human mistakes!
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1
Still I don’t trust the arrogant VB. Quite a clever to be captured on photo. Thanks to the 40% who voted for the right parties, he has to earn to his keeps now.
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in giving my thumbs up and down, i have a suggestion. Instead of giving the numbers at the start, put question marks.
Otherwise, people may vote irrationally, by the herd instinct. Hence, it ensures people read the comments properly and analyze the words first.
Because there is no such thing as a completely bad or good comment, and people should read between the lines for the half-truths and grey areas.
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“there are limits to engineering”
it “can be safely presumed that the weather patterns in Singapore have changed” and that rainfall may get worse in the future.
Ask a doctor to be an engineer and he decides to be a weather forecaster
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16 
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I can explain the flooding. It is due to one or a combination of the following factors:
La Nina
El Nino
Act of God
Act of Devil
But if you want to know the real source of the problem it could take 50 man-years to find out.
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Its is only normal practice that this man appears as it is his job, and his highly paid job. But, but, the real job if well done is not by him, it is by the engineers and architects who are going to solve the flooding problem. This man is only a ‘POSTMAN’ – he posts the problem to engineers and architects, and he claims the credit.
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Not sure about taking ownership. He replied in interview that it is the weather. I am not sure why our country now cannot handle the weather, cannot handle a few hours rain. I remember when I was young, there could be downpour for the entire day!
It is worrying, if we continue to blame the weather, and not admit where we have done wrong, for not being able to handle the ‘weather’ now. It is actually ok to admit it, correct it, and we shall all move on. Truly.
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`PAP Environment Minister Dr Vivian Balakrishnan won praises from netizens for taking the trouble to visit Tanglin Mall, the site of a major flooding this morning.’
This are the 60% S’porean. I’m speechless….
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Some years ago. A few Malaysians who hailed from Cheras in Kuala Lumpur got fed up with the perennial floods which usually inundated their area. These people engaged the Brotherhood. Darkness deployed the gaming think tank, the ASDF and what these people did was, they modified a Sim City software to predict floods based on heuristics. The program was very successful. But due to their greed, the whole thing just imploded due to their famous infighting. Why don’t you ppl use the same method. I am sure they will help. I am sure they can help.
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5
flipping idiot:
June 5, 2011 at 7:17 pm flipping idiot(Quote)
flipper: This is why we must continue to support our PAP ministers. They are honest and hardworking lots. Today is Sunday and yet he appear over there. He is not paid for working on his off days. Such a dedicated person. Do you see any opposition doing this on a Sunday. No way man, they rather sleep at home. This is why the PAP has been in power for so long. They are hardworking people that care about us. 60.1% can see this but the rest are bloody idiots.
=====================================================================
Give U a BONE and u shake your tail, not only shake but have to SHAKE HARD……….
MRT crashed in Clementi and the then Minister incharge, MBT, appeared after a few hours……..
Now Vivian appeared when all the water was CLEARED……
What they want to see????? A warm welcome by ppls like flipper???? Make a comparision with other countries, Ministers in 3rd world country can arrive much faster than them!!!! So why U are happy????
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8 
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Emeritus MM said: “No amount of engineering can prevent flooding.”
Wat Vivien, you don’t trust his forecasting?
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8 
1
this is the same guy who advocates culling of cats
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Don’t worry lah, this Minister has “experience” in “getting more funds ,even if it was wrongly budgeted ”
Sure can “get it done” one…even if it was 3 times “Under Budget”
If he “screws up”…then just give him “One Meal” instead of “3 meals” lor !
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Perhaps that’s the problem because the water gets pumped out and overflow the drainage system and on to the streets. And there are so many MRT and road tunnels all over the island. It’s not a coincidence that the floodings are happening near to MRT lines (Orchard, Bishan, Paya Lebar, etc).
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6 
0
vivian is a doctor.
he will understand that when the urinal tunnel is block, the patient will have difficulty pissing.
so vivian will have to unblock it.
sucking it will do.
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15 
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This water thingy should employ real FT to solve and they dont do it. WTF
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Guess this flipper person is either an RCs or a PUB person that want to lick his boots for promotion. what a dumb ass!!
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National water agency PUB said the extent of the flood at Tanglin Mall was something it had not seen in the last 25 years.
so this one not so bad lah. at least not 50 years.
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This is going to be a massive and messy undertaking considering the densely developed and built-in area. I can’t imagine what is going to happen to the businesses along Orchard Rd if they should decide to go ahead with your suggestion.
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6 
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vivian bala-K is gonna go: “the gays agenda to flood singapore is responsible”
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I thought I should remind us what happened a year ago till now and here are now some famous last words.
“Some things are beyond (being perfect); it’s an act of God unless you want to lose half the roads and have canals.” Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew, 21 July 2011 (about 16 Jun orchard road flood)
“Whatever we do when we get extraordinary rains like we had recently,” MM Lee said, “no amount of engineering can prevent flooding.”
“Public Utilities Board (PUB) is trying to prove MM Lee Wrong” Online citizen 21 Oct
“PUB is undertaking engineering works to “[raise] the low-lying stretch of Orchard Road to better protect it against flash floods”
press release on 21 October 2010
Its important to note that MM Lee may not have proved PUB wrong entirely yet. According to PUB website the works for Orange Grove Road to Cairnhill Road, incl Cuscaden Rd/ Tomlinson Rd, Claymore Dr is stil in progress though it should have been comlpeted on 2Q 2011.
If they have completed it on 1Q 2011 they would have done better.
While he idea of the barrage to save fresh water is a good idea, it seems that there is a need for another gate so that we can keep the stored water and still capture the flood water.
VB seems to be so puzzled and confused trying to forcast weather? Steady. Don gabarrah keep cool man.
Just have a few measuring points, deep tunnel reservoirs and a simple system which can decide to open or close the flood gates and we even get to save more water.
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Speaking after inspecting the flood areas at Tanglin Mall, Dr Balakrishnan said, “Personally, I think our weather has changed. I’m actually psychologically prepared for it to get worse.”
“You’re dealing with nature, and you’re dealing with the weather; you have to be prepared that there is a limit to human engineering and what we can deliver, ” he added.
This is the government we voted in.
Standing order now is to make this kind of statements to avoid looking too stupid:
First, say that we already expect things to be worse. This limits the shame when shit happens, so that when it hits the fan, you can say you knew the fan would kenna.
Second, say that the fault lies, not with you, but with Humanity – such as Human Engineering, or with God or some supernatural power.
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Multi-millionaire Environment Minister, Dr Vivian Balakrishnan normally have reservation meals with his family at posh restaurants.
So he was coincidently at GoodWood Park Hotel having his lunch and most probably being informed by his grassroot contacts to make a PR visit to the Tanglin Mall after the flood waters were cleared.
Otherwise, he may just make a comment the next day and most probably will say he will look into the issue, request for a flood control budget of at least $1 billion dollars and hope the next widespread flooding will occur 5 years later after PM Lee changes his minister portfolio.
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he know that actually he can’t solve the problem, goto see see walk walk at least can pretent he is trying to solve the problem.
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A servant should attend if they are needed.
What VB did was not something extraordinary but a SERVANT’s job requirement. Remember what PM Lee said or you people already forgotten? I say it again we are their MASTER. If our servant don’t do their job well we should take a WHIP and give them few lashes on their backsides to WAKE them up. You know why VB turned up puntually like a schoolboy at the mall? he is afraid of US the MASTER and their WHIP. Remember 7th of May the day when the jaws of PAP MP dropped down! Once again I want reiterate WE are the MASTERs; tHEy THE servants.
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Hey………
Every1 forget this is not only the Ministry Issue but indeed is a SERIOUS NATIONAL PROBLEM!!!!!!!
Where are all the CHIEFS????????????? SINCE then till now………
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Flippers , bloody idiot is it you ? I guess so …. go back to primary school learn your manner ….
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Sometimes people is just so funny.. Minister went down to understand situation and shown some concern, people will say they wayang and PR-ing.. Nv go down, say not concern.
Very Hard to please lo..
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5 
34
Dude! Wake up! You are no one’s master!
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Simple, dig very very deep down not just a few metres below the roads or buildings, and at least 300 metre deep. Study the Tokyo tunnel. Tokyo is more heavily built than Singapore’s CBD. Build the huge tunnel/s under parks or open ground, not under huge buildings. Link the huge tunnel to surface drains with huge conduit pipings for the flood water to drain down fast by gravity. It is to find out how the Tokyo’s systems work and copy it.
Check this link for the Tokyo massive tunnels:
http://www.michaeljohngrist.com/2009/04/g-cans-underground-temple-saitama/
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A medical doctor fixing flooded drain. It’s like stitching pipe with surgical needle.What a genius….. Only if you can fix it and fast. Don’t take too long, the fuse is short and the dynamite is in between those legs.
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Did the PUB CEO also go there? How about the chief PUB civil engineers?
Is it just musical chair? The previous Minister “pai pai pi gu” and goes on to head another ministry.
This one that overspent by millions comes in just to do the same as his predecessor.
In 5-year time, he will be transferred to look after another ministry. Let’s open our eyes and see.
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Don’t worry, he will look into this issue for the next 5 years….. And the next person will take over and look into it for another 5 years…
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9 
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Personally I’ll say.. Solve the problem first, before we talk about if Vivian is good, sincere or capable.
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8 
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This flood issue is not new. It is at least 2 years since Bukit Timah floods.
By now, Singaporeans need solutions, not some more show of concern and visits.
I am not giving any credit to this Minister.
It is his basic bread & butter like a doctor treating cough.
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Open grounds, but where? Like below the Esplanade, opposite the City Hall but not below the City Hall, or below the Fort Canning Park or even below the Istana Ground, the open ground, but not below the Istana Building, or below the Botanic Garden. But it must be built at least 300 metre deep. Study how deep are the Tokyo tunnels and copy it, and check where they built it, and why, and how they built it, and how many years it took and at what cost.
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To be very frank, these present groups from VB, PUB’s and Co. will find it tough to solve this flooding issue.
First, VB is not even an engineer, can he or will he propose any suggestion for works to be done in order to prevent flooding again?
So he will listen to others even the proposal is “like tikam” method, try an error method!
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Solution to flash massive floods but what can be done and what cannot be done within the 5 km radius, which is heavily built up? Building deep tunnels like those in Tokyo can be done. If we don’t copy the Tokyo tunnel systems, and build the tunnels deep very deep below the ground, at least 300 metres below ground level, Singapore will not be able to stop and end the massive flash floods. The deep and very deep underground tunnels is the only solution to lick this problem, to fix this problem. No other solution is able to effectively fix the flooding problem as ground surface solutions are limited and have many physical constraints.
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Please do not use Global Warming as whipping boy and excuse for incompetence.
Global Warming does more damage than the kind of rain and floods we see in Singapore.
If everything is God and Nature that determines than we dont need flood-related staff and depts anymore.
Nature gives Rain and not floods. Floods is still under human control.
If everything is due to God and nature then please cut the pay of flood-related staff and depts.
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Dr Balakrishnan had said that he personally think the local weather has changed, he is psychologically prepared for it to get worse and we should instead have basic knowledge on the rain pattern.
Then he added we are dealing with nature like the weather and have to be prepared that there is a limit to human engineering and what he can deliver.
So his ministerial post and multi million dollars salary should not be unduly affected by this phenomenon.
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8 
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The general election results had change our Minister Behavior
They are now more concern, caring, kindness
They are now more polite and helpful
this is a welcome, we will return back to good words
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12
i like the way he seem to have absolutely no idea what to do about the flooding, except to be psychologically prepared …
where to you live vivian?
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7 
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yeah, ever heard of disaster capitalism? 60.1% of sporeans are stupid enough not to even care, they should all go drink up the flood water.
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Well,the ‘flash’ floods are DIRECTLY PROPORTIANAL to the FT FLOODs into Siinkingpore?
another 900,000 FTs coming in to ‘ADD MORE WEIGHT’;MOTHERLAND is already over-laden,she cannot take it anymore?!
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10 
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See, with millions dollar pay, you can have once in 50 years flooding. Now going to have pay cut soon, so you will have one flooding each year…
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VB should not used ‘changing weather’ as an excuse, how can weather change within a year? He should use FT as the reason, the more FT, the more foreign trash will choke the drainage system.
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This half-mix grago must be thinking he is Obama.
After Obama have visited the disaster stricken area in the US
recently, half-mix must have taken his cue from there.
After his infamous “how much do you want?do you want 3meals
in a hawker center, food-court or restaurant?”, do you think he has
changed and suddenly become kind and compassionate. With a miser’s heart and a free for all attitude where fiscal budgets are concerned,
this is one dude that i have a very low opinion about.
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7 
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No amount of engineering can make Viva the Diva a decent human being !
What do all of you want? Flash floods in Tanglin Mall, The Promenade or Marina Bay Sands?
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Don’t bring Nuclear to Singapore, no confident that the current gov can handle it. If there is a meltdown, no chance for honest mistake, no chance to find excuses and no chance to apologise. Don’t put our life at risk for your OWN economic growth.
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13 
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Classic piece of apple polishing.
Well done, for a satire.
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2 
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Vivian is actually good minister & that is why he is voted as MP again in holland bt timah. He is well known for walk the talk & listening.
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0 
16
You mother work everyday and never get paid, why you never comment abt her? And regret not bringing her to univesral studio.
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Viva the Diva:
‘From my international experience in the recent YOG fantastico, I know how to resolve the flooding in Orchard Road. I will convene an international Swimming Fiastico where world swimmers will swim from Tanglin Mall as starting point to the Marina Bay Sands Casino. This will allow our Mediacorpse cameras to showcase our international attractions! But I must caution you, like my fellow PUB CEO concurred, it will be VERY VERY expensive, US$1-2 billion and Singaporeans must be prepared to pay for such priceless exposure. We must psychologically be ready to accept that such costs is an act of nature and no amount of human intervention can stop my administration from depleting our reserves shamelessly without consequences. Be prepared to regret & repent everyone when even God can be used by the MIW to be the scapegoat sacred cow.’ Moo or should I say, BOO !
Stinkies, prepare to die Swee Swee under the vile selfish actions of those Papsmear brown nose voters. Papsmear
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You think that just merely showing one’s face in public exemplifies dedication and committment? That’s the height of superficiallity!
This is what REAL committment and dedication is: Mr Chiam See Tong of the SPP
was the elected MP of Potong Pasir for 25 years. During that time, he visited EVERY SINGLE funeral that every occurred during his time as MP. Do you see PAP ministers doing this? Oh I forgot, opposition leaders don’t get paid millions of dollars unlike the PAP,but they still display such a great deal of dedication!
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2 
0
The Lee dynasty is bent on destroying Singapore as there is no 3rd generation in the Lee dynasty to become prime minister of singapore.
So they have got nothing to loose except to risk all they can.
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1 
0
In the old days, PAP guys took the initiative to go down and check it out.
Now they go only after everyone is cursing them.
Hence the cynicism.
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1 
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I doubt having engineer alone will solve this. VB is, for sure, relying on PUB & their civil engineering corps for advice. The CEO of PUB, Khoo Teng Chye is an engineer, and a President & Colombo Plan Scholar. So what has he come up with? Only to say it will be prohibitively expensive. I think he is right; he knows it can be done and what it will cost, but he doesn’t have the courage to recommend it to Cabinet. Why?
The solutions, whatever they are, e.g. digging tunnels, etc, will be massively disruptive and create traffic diversions and chaos of monumental proportions. Orchard Road being the main transport artery in the Business/Shopping area will create such a traffic congestion that paralyzes that part of Singapore. And the process will take years, not weeks nor months. So on balance, this Khoo dude is hedging himself by citing high costs, not nature or act of God.
They are really in a Catch 22 situation. If their study shows the root of the problem is indeed the Marina Barrage, overhauling that is a major political hot potato. Proposed by LKY in 1987, launched personally by him in 2008, the Barrage has won regional & international awards for engineering, ecological & water conservation excellence, and is a major tourist attraction. Imagine how many heads will have to roll if the Barrage turns out to be the culprit that is wreaking havoc.
Hence, as another commentator has said above, remedying the problem has implications far beyond VB MOE and PUB. It is whether LHL has the political will to honor what he told Singaporeans just after the Elections that there are no sacred cows that cannot be challenged. If not, we must be psychologically prepared to accept more floods.
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Dear Readers,
The Minister needs to see the problems for himself and how the flooding impact people’s livelihood and caused great inconveniences to our tourism industry. The Minister would probably never experienced its full impact as he is shielded from most of them. However, if he could organize a good team to start working on the challenges facing Singapore image and businesses then he would have done Singapore a considerable service. I do not know it is fair for him to a Civil Engineer to be able to do the job. A leader is also one who is able to get together a capable team to mitigate the floodgates.
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I agree. It is a dilemma. VB is damned if he does not try to solve the problem. He is also damned if he tries, as the political fallout will be high. Come 2016, the outcome of the Orchard floods may well sound the death knell of the PAP.
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If not for the poor elections results, would VV show up at Tanglin Mall?
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I suppose you can give him some points for turning up. But just turning up to the venue is one thing; if you see the photo, even Cookie Monster representing Sesame Street has turned up. What next, Dr VB?
Yes, I do find it quite odd that an eye doctor is now in charge of flood prevention- makes as much sense as an eye doctor in charge of sports. Perhaps one flaw with this government is that not all Ministers are experts in their portfolios. Their roles are more like managers.
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1
To say that they will study the nuclear proposal with “no stones unturned” is like saying they can control the acts of god.
All it reguires is one act, Singapore will be destroyed. The decision makers have no capacity to compensate it’s citizens and the nation then.
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Netizens praising Minister for showing up at disaster spot (hours later when disaster is over as a matter of fact) !! wtf!!
Isnt that the role of Minister? If tsunami or earth quake and in this case flood happens on christmas or new year day or minister’s birthday for that matter can they say : ;oh sorry its public holiday or my birthday?
When it is a disaster it is a DISASTER..it is minister duty to show up regardless. We are not talking about them keeping office hours going into Parliament! We are talking here about DISASTER, and in this case of their (men) DOING nothing to with ‘extraordinary rainfall’ (adjective of MMLee).
Rain be it extraordinary or not exists primordial (even before existent of humans) and it most certainly doesn’t suddenly become extraordinary just because PAP is govt…and because their say so!
If no engineering can fit it how come engineering in that aspect exists when planning construction?
Is this the A team in a PAP self proclaimed first world country?
Do we have extraordinary ministers? NO.
We have Ministers who excuse themselves with their responsibility with big adjectives and lame excuses blaming natural element as if natural element is a new thing they invented.
We have extraordinarily high paying Ministers who created this problem by dense build up too quickly in a small space for GDP to line their pocket with bonus.
We have extraordinary class paid ministers in a atrocious class parliament who push responsibility and excuse their mistakes in a country they built just as a model for display to the world, but it is just ‘a model’ with false facade, nice to look at from outside but when u enter it, it is full of flaws and everything is rotten inside.
This is the nation PAP built and pro-pap praise them for having turned up at disaster even thought it’s so blatantly obvious VB arrived LATE AS USUAL (fter the flood has subsided).
Maybe his idea of late arrival is so as not to get his designer shoes and pants wet, just to show face to keep up an image, more than a desire to witness the disaster first hand and see how they can resolve the problem!
It’s disgusting no Govt Official gave a statement over the disaster or say how they are going to solve the problem. When the sky decides to flash it big cistern tank…it’s not going to care whether our x MM call it extraordinary or whatever…it’s just going to happen that is a guarantee. What is not guarantee is our extraordinary pay ministers doing anything about it.
Beggar belief the PUB guy even said when rain is intense water overflows…well when a person has nothing between their ears they utter something stupid like that. something even a 5 watt dim wit knows.
Our Ministers have done nothing so far to show reform other than empty talks and empty promises. Surprise! Hardly!
They cant face a flood, god helps us if a calamity ever strike. I bet they are just going to hide under the bed until the disaster is going and then show face for image, and some idiot supporters of theirs is going to shoot their gob off and praise their ‘bravery’(NOT).
My hands are in the air…I still cant get over the ‘he got there even when it’s a sunday’remarks…what has the day of week got anything to do with visiting disaster spot? HELLO!
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For 1.5 million a year, I’ll work Sat, Sun, public holidays too.
Get real.
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Sissy Vivian, where were you when the boy was swept away in the flood?
Did you even visit at his funeral?
Of course the planning norms have to be revamped.
We cannot base planning on past 30-50 years, its no longer relevant.
You must base on the worst condition that occured within the last year.
Now you better ask PM for more budget to mitigate floods, don’t give excuse not enough budget.
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“Kudos to him for going down n checking out the situation on a Sunday !!! Lets hope he can work with PUB experts n work out a solution!”
Stupid comment.
What has ’sunday’ has got to do with it?
It’s like trying telling people Ministers are not expected to show up for tsunami or earthquake or fire or in this case flood or any disaster because it’s christmas or new year day!!
It’s a disaster and natural elements dont look at day of the week or care about days of the week. There is no such thing as time factor to natural elements.
Anyway this is not purely a problem of natural element.
The natural element ie rain is the precursor no doubt but the real problem lies with human bad designs, so it has got to be solved by human adjusting the designs – simple as.
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The FLASH FLOOD is directly proportional to the shit from your BIG MOUTH !
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The civil engineer gave too many excuses and cannot think outside the box, even blamed God! Now they need a new eye on the problem or closing one eye? Remains to be seen. We are watching you!
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Yes, the problem is not Vivian Balakrishnan, it is Yacob didn’t do a good job, Yacob should resign!
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Suggest to have his monthly salary deducted for every serious flood!!!
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Just another show. Why even bother going down just to show face and NOT do anything about it. Singapore needs to learn about Preventive Action.
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At least he made an attempt to visit the site,better than the last guy who did not move his arse.
When someone does something good dont critize just for the sake of critizing to score points.
The director of PUB should be the one to carry this baby.
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Temasek Review is becoming a trash bin.
Look at all the rubbish that is being written.
A bunch of frustrated writers.
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B4 election, can even visit Funeral at Void deck.
After election…wonder if any of these wayangs still exist ?
@Flipper — your idol at their best acts !
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Too many fts ppl in sg too fast. Even toilet holes will get jammed , common sense poor planning. Just want to upGDP to collect more pay. The effect for hosing , transport woes. MM got no choice but say no amount of engineering can solve it . It’s a joke we have too much water and we have to drink recycled water. Is all poor planning and money making. We get lots of publicity, free worldwide with these ridiculous mini floods, don’t need to throw millions to get YOG attention. By the way when they collect millions and cannot solve problem why should we tks them we should f them. Now even PUB CEO learn to to speak like a idiot flood is due to intense rain , better than once in fifty years freak flood. My neighbour three years old boy exclaims heavy rain again cannot go to orchard lah flooding again. After, someone fell into drain and died, they put up railing the next day ,I think the family will sue them , tender to drainage can wait , railings for safety of ppl don’t need to wait please. To all sg ppl wake up speak up for our children. In the meantime god bless us , while millions dollars blessed them already
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VB, you are NOT an engineer. How do you know there are limits to engineering to control the floods in Singapore?
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“flipper” you are right, he works on Sunday without taking off,and thus the OP’s, are rather sleeping.
What an Idiot Are You “flipper”! OP’s are paid to do the job for this millionaire minister?
Strange, as it seems he is attending to the elites and rich, during these troubled times.( Tanglin)
Wonder where was he, when little India is flooded during every other heavy downpour, in that area? Was he sleeping then?
Still not fixed yet, problem persists still!( flooding)
Or will he ask them if they want designer umbrellas, instead of cheap ones, like when he ask residents about their 3 meals in the restaurant?
Now “flipper” boy, who is sleeping? Bonehead! Bootlicker!
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The way VB talks, I think he is clueless. Next better player, please.
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wants to see him coming down to the flood site with solution, concrete solution, not talking, just plain talking! This is what he is paid for!! We pay for his $$$ salary, we demand nothing but solution (and compensation?)!!!
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No, I think we get it all wrong. We should gather all the local talents, especially those that are not happy with FT to brain storm and solve this problem…… Otherwise, if you get another world class drainage FT to solve this local problem; our bros & sis whom are not happy with FT will come back and “kan” this FT & government again.
Too many good jobs ( example, such as Mariner Barrage, Hyflux RO – not forgetting she is once a Malaysian and now FT ) for problem solving sometime pamper and spoil the human minds.
FT in local “kanna teo kan”, flooding problem come now want world class drainage FT to “kum”
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First the reply from Dr Vivian And PUB looks like the press statement from last year (YR2010)’s flood during the same period and same inaction & excuse once in fifty yrs occurence of heviest downpour to date.
Again excuses from previous incumbent Environment Minister Dr Yacoob continued by Dr Vivian Balakrishnan.
Qn: Based on the small size and density of Singapore Island Vs Bigger countries with similar urban flooding issues especially repeat flooding what is the size to size comparison and impact of situation.
2) But the minister of Environment in S’pore commands first world highest salary despite the smaller size of the island Vs his peers from other bigger countres environment ministeries ;including senator in charge in USA but able to resolve and come up with capable solutions through try and error methods. Here the first statement comes out of highly paid and accomplished minister is of “clueless” nature, and inability to find a solution.
**Note during the biggest man-made disaster of USA, BP Oil leak, even school children(elementary) to movie actors-Kevin Costner(all walks of lives/people)took turns to find a solution to stop leak.Meaning same situation that is what all sorts of people in Singaproe will do to solve the problem ;then taking minister and PUB’s helpless line of only seeing difficulty.
Issue is the pretenious “All knowing government & PUB’ have to eat humble salt and review all workable solutions as they on their own failed and deemed ineffective to date.
Neither we can wait for YR2012 to have another dejavu case of repeat flooding problem.
But only issue is Minister has lost his mandate to lead Ministry of Environment and does not deserve his high remuneration if that is the mediocre answer we get from him.RUBBISH, Utterly Rubbish.
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I didnt vote for VB this time round. Having seen him taking his new job seriously, I m beginning to think of voting him the next time round provided he continue the sincerity exhibited in his action. We vote the right man with the heart for the job, not one endorsed by the ruling party. VB, u look sincere to me this time round. Kudos for winning my vote in round. Show your sincerity, we can appreciate your limitation. Dont worry, we ve eye to see and ear to hear…….we re not swayed by sweet words. Keep it up, Mr Minister! U r the first I address Mr for a long time.
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even they are on call 24/7/365, their daily rate are still rather high… so coming into action on a sunday morning is perhaps a sign of the last ge results. imagine if no opp, then even half sgp flooded, maybe we dont even know ? cheers
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First we saw Lui Tuck Yew taking public transport, now we saw Vivian Balakrishnan visiting “yim zui” area. Probably PAP had changed its attitudes of being in a box. But will they change its attitude on immigration policy?
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No, not just hard to please.
When they collect the kind of impossible salary,
it’s just plain impossible to please!
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@flipper
You then is an big IDIOT. He is paid millions of dollars of course have to work even on Sundays! I suggest he should work 24 hours round the clock to check on the progress of the drainage system before his own house is being flooded!
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Is their acting for real? Only become good actors in these 5 years but once their votes increase, they go back to square one. We are the Masters and you the slaves. Whats wrong with this flipper guy? Kena Fuck too much by Vivian?
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Yah he now asking, ‘you want to sail down Orchard Rd in sampan, motor-boat, or million dollar yacht?’
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Guys, why everytime PAP does something for the people, a handful of people will critize them??
I’m not a PAP fan but i must admit ALOT of times, bad comments about PAP are really uncalled for..
Take this flood for example, a handful of people will say PAP is wayang…
If PAP donate blood … they say its wayang …
If PAP help the neddy, they say its wayang …
If PAP fights for some HDB rights for people, they say its wayang …
Tell you what, might as well you guys “UPRIGHT” say PAP everything is no good … then you all dun even have to read any article, just JUMP STRAIGHT into the Comments field and Shoot away …. isn’t it ???
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Sampan? You would be lucky if given a life-vest!
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If heavens have eyes,the Istana should be flooded.
When grandpa has to swim to work,all hell breaks loose.
All Ministers,civil servants & engineers will chant “YES, WE CAN”
Guaranteed Orchard Road will not be flooded within 1 to 2 years.
Now can only indulge in wishful thinking
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After running into a budget deficit on the YOG issue,VB should be sacked, and yet because he is a pet of someone, he has been transfered to look after our water situation. His inefficiency have made the flood worse.
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Give me half of it, I’m willing to work 14 hours a day, 7 days a week, no need holidays!
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I DIDNT ONCE SEE PUB CE KHOO THYE CHYE ON SITE TO SAY SORRY FOR PUB’S SHODDINESS. 2 YEARS IN A ROLL, WAKE UP PUB!
ORCHARD ROAD NEVER FLOOD BEFORE UNTIL U ALLOWED NARROWING OF CANAL @ SOMERSET AND WAS MARINA BARRAGE OPENED TO LET OUT WATERS TO ALLEVIATE SITUATION WHEN IT RAINED? EVEN IF U DID, BUT REALITY IS AS A GOVT AGENCY – U HAD FAILED YOUR PEOPLE NOT ONCE BUT THRICE!!
IF IT RAINS N FLOODS AGAIN THIS WEEK – I THINK PEOPLE OF SG HAS TO RIGHT TO ASK PUB TAKE FULL RESPONSIBILITY AS IT BROUGHT SHAME ONTO OUR NATION HAVING FLOOD ON OUR FAMED SHOPPING DISTRICT
WAKE UP CIVIL SERVANTS AND DON’T WEAR THOSE *$%#@! ROSE TINTED GLASSES AND BLOODY REALISED IT IS US SINGAPOREANS WHO GAVE U THESE POSTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES TO RUN A PROPER GOV SYSTEM FOR US!
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CORRECTION: PUBLIC UTILITIES BOARD CHIEF EXEC KHOO TENG CHYE
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