SINGAPORE: Singapore’s High Commissioner to Malaysia Vanu Gopala Menon on Thursday (Jun 8) said he was appalled by “gratuitously offensive comments” made by comedian Jocelyn Chia during a stand-up performance in New York. In a video clip of Chia performing at the Comedy Cellar club, she can be seen making jokes about Singapore’s relationshipContinue Reading
The Highway Police Division (HPD) will set up a committee to look into a recent attempt by a senior official at the Excise Department to lobby the HPD to avoid taking legal action against a tanker carrying illegal oil.
Pol Maj Gen Jaroonkiat Pankaew, commander of the Anti-Corruption Division (ACD), also acting as HPD commander, said the HPD police last Saturday stopped and seized an oil tanker for inspection on Phetkasem Road in Prachuap Khiri Khan and found the oil it transported was illegal.
Following the seizure, the unnamed senior Excise Department official called the HPD team and asked for a favour to let the tanker driver go and release the tanker, which the team refused to do, said Pol Maj Gen Jaroonkiat.
The Excise Department official then tried contacting Pol Maj Gen Jaroonkiat’s team asking for help to agree to a negotiation, he said.
Pol Maj Gen Jaroonkiat said as soon as he learnt about the caller’s intention, he immediately refused to meet that person.
“Now is time for everyone at the HPD to join hands in shaking off our bad reputation and build a new one to regain public trust,” he said.
He was referring to an ongoing investigation into the “sticker bribery” scandal of highway lorries disclosed by Move Forward Party (MFP) MP-elect Wiroj Lakkhanaadisorn, who cited information supplied by Land Transport Federation of Thailand chairman Apichart Prairungruang.
But being indispensable at work in the belief that it equates to job security is not necessarily a good idea either. For one, it may lead to burnout, stress, or even resentment, especially if employees pursue unsustainable work hours and habits like saying yes to every assignment.
It may also mean missing out on opportunities outside of immediate work duties, such as learning and development. We risk losing touch with industry trends, making it more difficult to make meaningful contributions in the future.
Compromising your well-being and chasing the need to be indispensable could even backfire and actually reduce the potential for growth and promotion. If we become so good at our job that no one else can replace us we might get passed over for promotion when new opportunities arise.
Indispensable employees may also create bottlenecks or dependencies that hinder the efficiency and innovation of the organisation. Especially for those in managerial positions, being indispensable and constantly the go-to person can limit our effectiveness if we underutilise our team, inevitably sabotaging our careers.
So if becoming indispensable isn’t the answer and being too replaceable isn’t ideal either, how can we strike the right balance between the two?
In Visier’s extensive experience working with companies, employers want someone adaptable, collaborative, proactive, and who can align their goals and values with the organisation’s vision and mission.
However, the rebound in airline earnings has been accompanied by a rise in passenger complaints. The United States Department of Transportation received more than 77,000 complaints about airline service in 2022, 55 per cent more than that in 2021. The most common issues were flight disruptions, reimbursement and baggage.
No doubt, the increase in complaints is in part due to the revival of the travel sector after COVID-19. But airlines may be tempted to cash in on such robust consumer demand, despite not having recovered to full pre-pandemic capacity yet.
Overbooking is one way airlines do this. Six years after a passenger was violently dragged off a United Airlines flight, US travellers are still denied boarding due to airlines selling more seats than they have available. The Wall Street Journal reported that more than twice as many passengers were bumped off flights between October 2021 and September 2022 compared to the same period in the previous year.
It is natural for passengers to expect better service after paying a fortune. In Asia, recent news stories suggest passengers have lower tolerance towards poor in-flight service and meal quality.
Singapore Airlines, a regular top five airline in the world, sparked criticism after trialling paper serviceware in economy and premium economy class. Some customers deemed the paper boxes “cheap”, leading the airline to reverse its decision.
It could be that passengers expect more from Asian carriers, as they tend to outdo US and European airlines in world rankings. But individually, some airlines had been struggling even before COVID-19.
Last month, Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu wrote on Facebook that the NEA has convened Singapore’s Haze Task Force to review and prepare its response in the case of transboundary haze.
“As a precaution, Singaporeans may wish to make preparations to protect your loved ones, such as by ensuring that you have an adequate supply of N95 face masks and your air purifiers are in good working condition,” she said.
The NEA’s haze microsite said portable air cleaners can be used to keep particle levels low in an enclosed space. A device with a higher clean air delivery rate can produce more clean air for a room.
Children, the elderly, pregnant women and those with chronic lung or heart disease are more vulnerable, according to the NEA’s haze website.
When air quality is in the unhealthy range, people with chronic lung or heart disease should not engage in prolonged or strenuous outdoor physical activities. Children, seniors and pregnant women should minimise such exertions, while healthy individuals should reduce outdoor exercise.
In 2013, clinics and hospitals in Singapore said more people were seeing the doctor for haze-related conditions. Even those without existing medical conditions felt the effects of the haze, CNA reported at the time.
The PSI reading in Singapore hit 401 in June 2013, which is in the hazardous range where healthy individuals are advised to minimise going outdoors and vulnerable people should avoid outdoor activities.
Ministry asks if move was to boost funds
ANG THONG: The Ministry of Education has ordered a committee to probe claims that 130 ethnic children were relocated from a Thai-Myanmar border town to a school in Ang Thong’s Pa Mok district against their will.
Local complaints were filed to authorities that a large group of ethnic children have enrolled in Thairath Wittaya 6 School, which has only two teachers, one director and one administrative staff member, said Ang Thong governor Rangsan Tancharoen.
The school holds classes from kindergarten to primary school, or grades 1-6.
The ministry is concerned about whether the children were lured to the school so that it would get financial support from the government and the private sector, Mr Rangsan said.
The committee will investigate the school director’s intentions, he said, adding that police have already questioned the admin staff member and the two teachers.
Pol Col Sakchai Kraiweeradechachai, superintendent of Pa Mok station, said police found that none of the 137 students were Thai.
Police said seven students are children of Cambodian migrant workers who have legal registration to work in the area not far from the school, while another 130 kids must undergo proof of nationality, said Pol Col Sakchai.
He said the 130 children could not speak the Thai language.
The ethnic children were moved from the school to Wat Sa Kaeo Orphan Aid Centre on Wednesday to await screening and find out if they are victims of human trafficking, he said.
Many children told an interpreter they were taken from an Akha village on Doi Mae Salong in Chiang Rai province, a hill separating Thailand and Myanmar.
During the interview, one Akha girl reportedly cried that she missed her parents and her home in the North. She said a group of strangers had picked her up from the village and taken other kids to Ang Thong against their will.
School director Kanlaya Tasom has refused to talk to the media.
The head of an army training centre is facing an investigation following the death of a conscript the morning after he was reportedly punished for smuggling an e-cigarette into the centre, army chief Gen Narongpan Jittkaewtae said on Wednesday.
A committee will look into the death at the 27th Cavalry Squadron in Muang district of Saraburi. Those involved in his training will be punished if they are found to be at fault, the army chief said.
He was responding to media reports about the death of Pvt Wanyawut Lampapa which some suggest resulted from arduous military punishment exercises. News reports cited a popular Facebook page called Big Krian (big troll) which quoted the result of an autopsy on the 21-year-old soldier. The result indicated the cause of death was a ruptured spleen.
The autopsy result contradicted a statement by the military camp where the training centre is located, which insisted the soldier died from a pre-existing chronic disease, said a post on its Facebook page on Tuesday.
The young man’s mother has taken his body back home to Chamni district of Buri Ram for a funeral and she had no problems with the cause as given, said the post. She said she was well aware that her son was physically weak and tired easily when doing exercise.
She had talked to his trainers and other parties about how he died, said the post. His mother, however, insisted her son didn’t have any chronic disease. The soldier arrived at the centre on May 16 and died on Sunday.
“We have to accept the truth no matter what. And if it really is our men’s fault, they will face disciplinary action,” said Gen Narongpan. “As for the family of the dead soldier, we will see what we can do to compensate them.”
The centre at the 27th Cavalry Squadron is one of 299 army training centres nationwide. The army chief insisted the army has an accountability policy on conscription and soldier training which can still win the trust of parents.
Army Region 1 later issued a letter expressing deep regret for the loss of Pvt Wanyawut.
It said an initial probe found he had not been assaulted leading to his death.
The Thai Frontline Physician Confederation (TFPC) voiced disappointment on Wednesday at the Public Health Ministry’s response to demands that it tackle problems faced by medical professionals including doctors.
The union said while the ministry acknowledged problems ranging from excessive workloads to personnel shortages and underpaid staff, it stopped short of saying how it would address the issues.
The union said it had tried to bring the problems to the attention of ministry executives, only to be told they were not in a position to offer higher pay or positions to doctors.
It hoped the new public health minister would look into the problems and solve them so medical professionals could do their jobs with less pressure.
Dr Taweesin Visanuyothin, public health deputy permanent secretary, said on Wednesday the ministry has been working to fix problems facing medical professionals. He said the ministry’s plan focused on four areas: payment, welfare, career paths and workload. The ministry had to work with agencies to push these areas ahead.
Issues such as the shortage of doctors and doctor training would be discussed with the Medical Council of Thailand, while the Civil Service Commission and the ministry will discuss recruitment and retirement issues, including a special employment scheme. On workload, he said the ministry would talk with the National Health Security Office, which is responsible for the universal healthcare coverage scheme.
Expanded medical and health services under the UHC scheme have resulted in more patients, putting an extra workload on doctors and other medical personnel. The Public Health Ministry is the main service provider of the UHC, and it cannot deny people services, said Dr Taweesin. On Tuesday, public health permanent secretary Dr Opas Karnkawinpong admitted medical personnel shortages have led to staff being overworked at some hospitals.
David Woo writes that Market reactions to Ukraine’s anticipated counteroffensive have been muted so far, but the potential for an oil market disruption and gold’s resilience amid geopolitical risks present investment opportunities, while a long Turkish lira position emerges as a low-correlation trade option.
Uwe Parpart sees Ukrainian military probes in the country’s south as having yielded little strategic advantage, while the Russians have position themselves favorably, potentially setting the stage for a wider war and highlighting the risks of Ukraine resorting to actions that may draw NATO into the fight.
James Davis analyzes Ukraine’s latest offensive to liberate territories occupied by Russia. Ukrainian forces suffered heavy losses, with their armor destroyed by Russian helicopters, revealing weaknesses in Ukrainian anti-aircraft defense and the need for air cover in future offensives.
Scott Foster explains how the RISC-V Software Ecosystem’s (RISE) aims of supporting the open standard RISC-V International and strengthening the development of RISC-V poses challenges to the US government’s efforts to hinder Chinese high-tech advancements.
Scott Foster writes that despite the Japanese government’s plans to impose export restrictions on semiconductor production equipment to China, Japanese equipment makers, such as Screen Holdings, do not anticipate significant damage to their business due to a shift in Chinese investment focus.
Taiwan’s election campaign has been spiked with #MeToo intrigue after some 20 sexual harassment cases were alleged by victims and anonymous sources.
On June 6, Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen apologized for the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP)’s mishandling of a series of sexual harassment cases and promised to improve the government’s complaints channel to encourage #MeToo victims to report their cases.
Lai Ching-te, chairman of the DPP and potential candidate for the presidential elections next January, said the party will seriously handle every complaint and punish those who tried to cover up the cases. He admitted that the reported #MeToo cases over the last week had hurt the reputation of the DPP.
Kuomintang (KMT), the largest opposition party, has leveraged the controversy to attack the DPP. But it, too, has been accused of mishandling several sex-related cases in recent years.
Ko Wen-je, chairman of Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) and a presidential candidate, said he does not want sexual harassment cases to be used as political weapons at the upcoming elections.
China’s state media, including China Central TV, said Tuesday that at least 20 sexual harassment cases related to the DPP, KMT and TPP have been identified. Some news websites only mentioned the DPP’s cases and said Taiwanese people should vote down the party in the presidential elections next January.
At least ten #MeToo cases in the DPP were made public after Chen Chien-jou, a former DPP worker, said in a Facebook post on May 31 that she was sexually harassed by a film director several months ago.
Chen said her case was mishandled by Hsu Chia-tien, deputy secretary-general of the DPP and head of the party’s women’s affairs department, who asked for all the details but then left her to decide by herself whether she wanted to file a case.
Hsu resigned from her positions in the party on June 1 with her resignation accepted by Lai. Hsu has not made any comments as the DPP is investigating the case. Many other sexual harassment cases were then reported by Taiwanese media.
Among them, Tsai Wan-fen, then director of DPP women’s affairs department, was accused of receiving a case without bringing it to a higher level in the party, according to an anonymous source. Tsai said Wednesday that the case was closed without an investigation as the victim did not want to expose it.
President Tsai said in a Facebook post that she has held several meetings with Premier Chen Chien-jen and decided to reform the government’s complaint system in three ways:
“Recent events are not about politics or elections, but they remind us that apart from apologizing, we must work together to shape a safer and friendlier society,” Tsai says.
“Victims often do not come forward to accuse the perpetrators due to various concerns, and they have to suffer more during the investigation process,” she added. “Our society as a whole must re-educate ourselves. Victims of sexual harassment are not the wrongdoers. They are the people we want to protect, not the people to be treated with prejudice.”
KMT spokesman Yang Chih-yu on June 2 criticized the DPP for promoting gender equality while failing to correct its own failings. Yang said Tsai should be responsible for many cases, which happened at the time when she was DPP chairperson.
But then, Taiwanese journalist Dong Cheng-Yu wrote in a Facebook post that she had been kissed on her head by a KMT county chief without her consent during a meal with journalists and politicians in 2014. She said she had immediately scolded the county chief but did not tell the public until now.
Hou You-yi, a KMT presidential candidate, said the party should investigate the case. He said the party will not tolerate any sexual harassment offenses.
In the past few days, more cases involving political parties have been reported.
KMT lawmaker Hsu Chiao-hsin said on Monday that a DPP member surnamed Luo was accused of sending pictures of himself naked to dozens of male colleagues in 2019 but he is still allowed to work for the Tainan city government. Hsu said the person was a KMT lawmaker’s assistant before 2020.
An index that reflects netizens’ impressions of the DPP had risen from 0.3 in April to 0.53 in mid-May but it dropped to 0.21 after a sexual harassment case was reported on May 31, according to a survey conducted by the Taiwan Public Opinion Research Center.
However, a survey conducted by CNEWS, a Taiwanese news media, on May 31 and June 1 showed that President Lai was still leading in support with 35.5%, followed by Hou (32.1%) and Ko (24.4%).
Alex Tsai, a former member of the Legislative Yuan, said Hou is in an unfavorable situation as he fell behind Ko in Yunlin, Chiayi and Tainan counties. Tsai said Hou should use the DPP scandals to gain more votes from women, he said.
Read: Taiwan pushes FTA after closing US trade deal
Follow Jeff Pao on Twitter at @jeffpao3