Minister Khaw: Lau Goh’s government threw away 285 million tax dollars to construct problematic Bukit Panjang LRT?

MOT Minister Khaw Boon Wan has confirmed the “afterthought” Bukit Panjang LRT (BPLRT) is a flop. 😦

The BPLRT, constructed at a cost of about $285 million, has been plagued with problems since it started operations in 1999.

Khaw made extremely scathing comments, as if those who designed or approved the BPLRT had no brains:

After giving his expert opinion on the BPLRT, ie it does not deserve to exist in its current form, Khaw made a 180 turn and said its “reliability could be improved” – even before renewal works get under way.

Hmm … no LRT is designed that way but the PAP wants to throw millions at renewal? Will it stop twisting and turning?  And reliability could be improved before renewal? MSM readers must be scratching their heads and wondering WTF was Khaw talking about. 🙂

Khaw also claimed that the BPLRT caused him dizziness on the few occasions he took a ride. Then what about commuters who have been putting up with dizzy rides – daily – for 18 years?

In 1994, COE introducer Minister Mah had tasked the MRTC to study the use of an LRT system, costing taxpayers $499,000. Together with a delegation, Mah also enjoyed a taxpayer-funded tour to France and Germany to learn, copy and paste from the Europeans. NLB

After so much effort and hundreds of thousand$ spent, how could this lead to an LRT system that was problematic since day 1? After all, wasn’t Mah an above average intelligent Singaporean with 6 distinctions and 2 credits for his ‘O’ Levels?

Anyway, no one will be held accountable for the $285 million “afterthought”, excluding the additional millions spent on maintaining “afterthought”. 😦
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In conclusion, commuters should not blame the current government for the construction of a problematic LRT even though issues were foreseeable. Also, don’t blame never-need-to-hara-kiri Khaw, who was then MTI perm sec as he was definitely not involved.

Khaw seemed to be suggesting that if anyone was to blame, it should be Lau Goh’s government, which was at that time “under political pressure” to construct BPLRT.

But isn’t Khaw telling us another cock and bull story since ultimately no one will be held accountable after pocketing millions in ministerial/civil service salary? 🙂