Commentary: Tighter enforcement not enough to prevent workplace fatalities in Singapore

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I also attended an ESG seminar and realised that the speakers and participants were focused on the environmental aspect and appeared oblivious to WSH issues. More needs to be done in this space.

BUILDING A STRONG SAFETY CULTURE

Engaging stakeholders through ESG reporting or other information sharing is not foolproof. Researchers have suggested that soft interventions should supplement hard regulations. 

MOM and WSH Council have done much in that respect over the years, with the former stepping up companies’ accountability for workplace accidents, and the latter providing comprehensive guidelines and timely WSH alerts. 

Nevertheless, to effectively engage more organisations in building safety culture, there is a need for more sharing of information.

Since 2018, the WSH Act has empowered the Manpower Ministry to publish learning reports to share significant lessons learnt following workplace accidents or diseases. Unlike the accident alerts disseminated by the WSH Council, learning reports are more in-depth and are not admissible in court. 

However, to date, there are only two learning reports published. More can be shared to ensure that companies can improve from the failures of others. In addition, findings from WSH prosecution cases that had been thoroughly debated in court should be captured and disseminated.

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Commentary: Titanic sub - why is extreme ‘frontier travel’ booming despite the risks?

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In many instances that danger remains, but the commercial transaction strips away the perceived risks involved. Marketing materials aim to sell “safe” adventures, with the risks often listed in the fine print. A polar plunge in Antarctica, for instance, is often marketed as safe because participants are attached to a tether and the swim time is limited to prevent hypothermia.

Two decades ago, in forecasting the growth of space tourism, anthropologist Valene Smith said what tourists want, the industry will provide. This has become a truism, as the Titan voyages demonstrate.

The massive growth of frontier tourism could lead to even greater problems if the industry doesn’t respond in the right way. If travellers are going to expose themselves to extreme risks, whose responsibility is it, then, to ensure their safety and recovery should accidents occur?

Many tourism businesses and travel insurance companies make risks known to their guests. But regulations on disclosing risks differ between countries. This means travellers may have to evaluate the risks themselves, and this is fraught with danger if company standards are low.

One solution is frontier tourism might be best experienced in controlled and safe environments through digital storytelling or augmented and mixed reality. However, this may not be enough to satisfy the adrenaline junkies out there.

As the Titan incident illustrates, the unpredictable nature and unintended consequences of frontier tourism are very real things. While money can allow us to travel almost anywhere, it’s worth considering whether some places should just remain untouched, sacred and off-limits completely.

Anne Hardy, Can Seng Ooi and Hanne E F Nielsen are academics at University of Tasmania. Joseph M Cheer is Professor of Sustainable Tourism and Heritage, Western Sydney University. This commentary first appeared on The Conversation.

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Expressway Authority of Thailand touts rest stops project

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The Expressway Authority of Thailand (Exat) floats an idea to construct a 5.1-billion-baht construction of two rest stops in Samut Prakan and Pathum Thani provinces. (Photo: Exat PPP Rest Area)
The Expressway Authority of Thailand (Exat) floats an idea to construct a 5.1-billion-baht construction of two rest stops in Samut Prakan and Pathum Thani provinces. (Photo: Exat PPP Rest Area)

The Expressway Authority of Thailand (Exat) held a market sounding on Friday to invite private companies to invest in the 5.1-billion-baht construction of two rest stops in commercial areas.

Exat governor Surachet Laophulsuk said after the event that the roadside services would be built on properties in the Bang Prong area of Samut Prakan province and the park-and-ride station next to Thammasat University’s Rangsit Campus in Pathum Thani province.

Investors, financial institutions, and public and private companies heard how the rest stop project in Bang Prong area will be situated on Kanchanaphisek expressway (Bang Phli-Suksawat), an area with high traffic volume. It should cost 627 million baht to build and 1.7 billion baht to manage and operate.

The park-and-ride station next to Thammasat University Rangsit Campus, which would function as a hub connecting regional routes, is estimated to cost 706 million baht, with management and operation expected to total 2 billion baht, he said.

“Exat has also developed commercial areas of 4,250 rai, or about 680 hectares, to benefit non-core businesses. Therefore, we are preparing to take the two rest stop areas in a bid for public-private partnership [PPP],” Mr Surachet said.

The PPP should yield a 10% rate of return during its 33-year contract.

Expressway Authority of Thailand (Exat) Surachet Laophulsuk speaks to reporters at a market sounding held on Friday to invite private companies to invest in the 5.1-billion-baht construction of two rest stops in commercial areas. (Photo: Exat)

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World-class venues, positioning as regional events capital behind Singapore's concert hub status

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STB’S PROMOTION EFFORTS

Dr Barkathunnisha from World Women Tourism said the music and entertainment industry is part of the MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions) sector, with Singapore being a MICE centre in Southeast Asia.

“There are plenty of grants and incentives provided by STB to support the MICE sector, especially in the pandemic recovery phase,” she said.

“These initiatives have established Singapore’s brand as a global and regional hub for music and entertainment, enabled Singapore to tap the dynamic growth of music markets in the region and, also opened many opportunities for collaboration between our city-state and the stakeholders in the global music industry.”

Many global music companies have also set up shop in Singapore, such as Universal Music Group which established its Southeast Asia regional headquarters here, she added.

Elaborating on STB’s efforts, Dr Barkathunnisha said it has been developing strategic tie-ups in the region and even partnered with Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Charlie Puth as well as record label Warner Music to promote Singapore as a music and entertainment destination.

STB also recently collaborated with Hong Kong-born K-pop star Jackson Wang, who recorded a series of travel vlogs in Singapore.

WORLD-CLASS INFRASTRUCTURE

In terms of facilities, Singapore has world-class infrastructure and state-of-the-art venues that are well-equipped to host large-scale concerts, said Dr Barkathunnisha.

Some examples are the Victoria Memorial Hall and Esplanade to “cater to different types of events or concerts”, Mr Khoo noted.

“The venues themselves are also vying for different acts … So that’s good,” he said. “We’ve created a little bit of an ecosystem there that tries its best to pull in K-pop artistes, Japanese artistes, or European or American artistes to come over to Singapore.”

While Singapore has been able to attract big names even before the pandemic, Mr Khoo pointed out that pent-up demand from COVID-19 restrictions could have led to an increase in demand for concerts, leading to artistes like Coldplay adding more performances in Singapore.

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Commentary: Gloves come off in spat between Malaysia PM Anwar and Mahathir Mohamad

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MUCH REMAINS UNCLEAR ABOUT UEM-RENONG DEAL

The probe into the UEM-Renong deal, however, could lift the lid on several controversial and unresolved episodes surrounding UMNO’s previously sprawling corporate empire. UMNO, which is the oldest political party in Malaysia, was booted out of power in 2018 and is now a junior member in Mr Anwar’s unity government. 

Senior government officials close to the situation told CNA that the MACC is indeed probing the still-murky behind-the-scenes corporate manoeuvres that led to the controversial RM2.3 billion purchase of a 32.6 per cent stake in Renong by UEM. After 26 years, it is still unclear how and why UEM paid above-market rate for shares in its troubled debt-laden parent company in the middle of a regional financial crisis.

At the time, the equities structures of UEM and Renong featured a complex web of cross-holdings with businessman Halim Saad as the main controlling shareholder of both concerns. Renong and UEM had become the main recipients of government infrastructure contracts, including the North-South Highway toll road project, and both companies invested aggressively in a slew of sectors. 

At its peak, the UMNO corporate empire under both Renong and UEM boasted 11 publicly listed entities in its stable, with interests in banking, real estate development, telecommunications, constructions and toll roads. But this rapid corporate expansion was built on the back of bank borrowings that were collateralised by shares of both companies. 

The regional crisis that triggered weakness in the local currency quickly spread to the stock market and politically linked stocks, such as Renong and UEM were sold down by foreign investors – developments that led to the controversial Renong purchase by UEM.

The transaction, which Mr Halim failed to explain satisfactorily to investors at the time and which was suspected to be a bailout for Renong’s shareholders, pushed the economy into a tailspin.

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Exat touts rest stops project

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The Expressway Authority of Thailand (Exat) held a market sounding yesterday to invite private companies to invest in the 5.1-billion-baht construction of two rest stops in commercial areas.

Exat governor Surachet Laophulsuk said after the event that the roadside services would be built on properties in the Bang Prong area of Samut Prakan province and the park-and-ride station next to Thammasat University’s Rangsit Campus in Pathum Thani province.

Investors, financial institutions, and public and private companies heard how the rest stop project in Bang Prong area will be situated on Kanchanaphisek expressway (Bang Phli-Suksawat), an area with high traffic volume. It should cost 627 million baht to build and 1.7 billion baht to manage and operate.

The park-and-ride station next to Thammasat University Rangsit Campus, which would function as a hub connecting regional routes, is estimated to cost 706 million baht, with management and operation expected to total 2 billion baht, he said.

“Exat has also developed commercial areas of 4,250 rai, or about 680 hectares, to benefit non-core businesses. Therefore, we are preparing to take the two rest stop areas in a bid for public-private partnership [PPP],” Mr Surachet said.

The PPP should yield a 10% rate of return during its 33-year contract.

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RID to patent first multifunctional UAV in region

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The Royal Irrigation Department is launching a self-developed unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). rid photo
The Royal Irrigation Department is launching a self-developed unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). rid photo

The Royal Irrigation Department (RID) will register its self-developed unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to obtain a patent, making it the first multifunctional UAV in Southeast Asia.

Prapit Chanma, director-general of the RID, said yesterday the autonomous drone was jointly researched by the department’s Geo-information Division and Office of Engineering Topographical and Geotechnical Survey.

“The drone will assist the RID’s work such as irrigation canal survey pre- and post-flood or remote area survey for dredging. Initially, the department is proceeding with a request for a patent,” said Mr Prapit.

The data collected by the drone will be cited along with the RID’s construction and other projects.

“Aerial imagery from the drone will update the department’s topographical database, benefiting our future irrigation design and construction for Thailand’s water management,” said Mr Prapit.

Moreover, the drone can perform emergency responses, including carrying medical equipment and emergency kits to hard-to-reach areas. Each drone can carry up to 25 kilogrammes.

“In the future, there will be improvements in drone capacity to assist the RID’s missions,” he added.

Wittaya Kaewmee, the RID’s deputy director-general, said the department has four imported drones, costing 2 million baht each, which can only be used for high-resolution aerial imagery.

The department initiated a research project to develop its own cost-effective, multifunctional drone at a budget of just 600,000 baht per drone. It can fly for two hours per operation.

Mr Wittaya said that the RID will contribute the drone’s practical advice to companies listed under Thailand’s National Innovation Agency for cheaper production in the months and years to come.

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Worker killed in Tanjong Pagar structure collapse was walking along path outside worksite

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PRECAUTIONS COMPANIES SHOULD TAKE In its alert, the WSH Council advised companies on the precautions they should take while carrying out demolition works. “Demolition works are high-risk construction activities. A demolition method statement must be prepared by a professional engineer,” it said. “The method statement must ensure that before andContinue Reading

Google, Microsoft rivalry supercharging the AI race

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Microsoft and Google have recently made big investments in two of the most valuable companies in artificial intelligence (AI). OpenAI, which developed ChatGPT, has received a staggering investment of US$10 billion from Microsoft, while Google has invested $300 million in Anthropic.

The companies’ financial support for AI has pushed an ongoing rivalry into the public spotlight. Google’s struggle for dominance with Microsoft is increasingly at the forefront of discussions about AI’s future success.

Google has made enormous contributions to the field of AI development, including the invention of transformers – a particular form of machine learning, where an algorithm improves at tasks as it is “trained” on data – the advancement of techniques for automating the translation of languages and the acquisition of AI company DeepMind.

Although Google has consistently positioned itself at the forefront of AI development, a significant milestone was reached with the introduction of ChatGPT. California-based company OpenAI released ChatGPT in November 2022 and a more advanced version, GPT-4, was unveiled in February 2023.

The arrival of ChatGPT sparked widespread discussion about artificial general intelligence (AGI) – where machines surpass human intellect. This was also the focus of warnings by Geoffrey Hinton, an influential figure in AI, who gave several interviews outlining his concerns about the technology after resigning from Google earlier this year.

Consequently, the number of research papers focusing on large language models (LLMs) – the type of AI technology ChatGPT is based on – surged. Other AI research areas, such as dialogue systems and information retrieval, stand to lose out.

Amid this rapid technological disruption, it seems that Google fears losing its technological edge and market dominance.

Contradictory position?

This concern is not unwarranted. ChatGPT, made by a direct competitor, has made use of Google’s pioneering internet search techniques to generate significant profit. Furthermore, the flow of talent from Google to OpenAI – along with the latter’s rapid growth – has become a worrying trend for the search giant.

When OpenAI was founded, one of its principles was making software that was “open source”, where software is publicly available, allowing developers to share and modify it. Google, meanwhile, has maintained a relatively consistent commercial approach regarding its plans and ambitions.

However, OpenAI’s recent shift towards commercialism and closed-source practices seems to contradict its original corporate philosophy.

Representation of ChatGPt
ChatGPT has been successfully using search techniques pioneered by Google. Giulio Benzin / Shutterstock

Some industry insiders have criticized OpenAI for its somewhat contradictory posture. While it presents itself as a champion of open-source AI, it is undeniably a commercial entity, a fact it does not readily admit.

This tension between OpenAI’s public image and business realities has made the rivalry with Google even more intriguing.

One likely outcome of this competition is the continued evolution and refinement of AI technology, spurred by the need to stay ahead in the market. Google’s techniques, once exploited by OpenAI for commercial gain, will probably undergo further innovation.

This evolution will not only enhance the functionality of AI applications, but also greatly improve user experiences.

Yusuf Mehdi, corporate vice president at Microsoft, recently indicated that the company didn’t feel it necessary to overhaul the search landscape, as even a single point increase in market share represented a US$2 billion hike in value This strategic downsizing of their ambitions could be an attempt to lessen competitive pressures in the tech industry.

Stronger scrutiny

It’s worth noting that Microsoft’s association with OpenAI adds another layer to this complex rivalry. Google has also shown a willingness to invest in external AI projects to extend its influence.

For instance, the company’s investment in Anthropic, an AI research company, reflects Google’s strategy to maintain its technological lead through strategic partnerships.

One concern that resonates with many people, including me, is the potential for misinformation, disinformation and distortion created by ChatGPT. With over 200 million users, it serves around 2.53% of the global population.

Widespread disinformation on social media has significantly eroded trust in online content and reportedly influenced the 2016 US presidential election.

With such a vast user base for ChatGPT, it is conceivable that tech companies could manipulate conversations, subtly swaying users’ preferences and decisions in numerous ways. Therefore, the need for stronger scrutiny and regulation of these large language models is becoming increasingly urgent.

The welcome screen for the OpenAI “ChatGPT” app is displayed on a laptop screen on February 03, 2023 in London, England. Photo: Twitter / Leon Neal / Getty Images

Despite the growing competition over AI, Google remains a respected entity in the global tech industry. The AI rivalry between Google and Microsoft has driven both companies to push the boundaries of this technology, promising exciting advancements in the years to come.

The various strategies employed in this competition, from talent acquisition to strategic investments, reflect the significance of the stakes in the AI landscape. Specifically, acquiring top talent allows these companies to advance their AI capabilities, giving them a competitive edge.

Strategic investments, on the other hand, allow for diversification and expansion into new AI applications and sectors, increasing their influence and market share in the AI field. These actions underscore the high value and potential of AI technology in shaping our future.

Yali Du is Lecturer in Artificial Intelligence, King’s College London

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

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Indonesia entrepreneurs cash in on TikTok live selling spree

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JAKARTA: Indonesian livestreamer Christine Febriyanti stood in a room crammed with clothes in Jakarta, hawking colourful garments to hundreds of viewers on a TikTok livestream for a local fashion brand. “For the Vitamin C kind of girls, you’ll fulfil all of your nutrient needs with these orange pants,” the 25-year-oldContinue Reading