It is not the technology, it is governance, idiot!

Governance in e-government, according to the SM Goh Chok Tong, required three elements:

• transparency, accountability and incorruptibility--government leaders have to set an example, and "every credible allegation of corruption" needs to be looked into. In public sector procurement, for instance, open competitive tenders are the norm, so much so that "many suppliers and vendors regard winning a project in an open competitive bid in Singapore as a valuable endorsement of their product", said Goh.
• continuous regulatory review--administrations need to constantly relook rules and regulations to do away with obsolete ones, as well as re-engineer delivery processes. Without continuous regulatory reviews, the government would simply be importing inefficiencies into an electronic system.
• working as one--breaking down silos in the public service is a necessary ingredient, as a silo mentality can create problems for investors and businessmen, noted Goh. Likewise, civic-minded individuals may also be discouraged from providing feedback if they are given the run-around

Good governance, the politician added, also enables the Singapore administration "to improve the effectiveness of government". For example, the Singapore government uses e-government systems to identify lower-income residents and provide them bigger cash payouts, which are automatically channeled as the government databases are linked to banking systems.

E-Government challenge:

At the heart of e-government progress is a need for cultural shifts and to manage such shifts carefully. Ken Cochrane, CIO of the Government of Canada between 2006 and 2008, said from his country's experience of moving the public sector into a shared services model that changing user mindsets was often the most challenging part of the process.

"Technology was the least of our worries; the biggest challenge was trying to convince departments to use our shared services," said Cochrane, currently managing partner of SSG Southside Solutions Group.

Source: This article was excerpted from "Build governance into e-govt, experts urge" (http://www.zdnetasia.com/news/business/0,39044229,62055056,00.htm)

Hypocrisy of Insurance Companies

My insurance agents would always talk about purchasing life, health and disability insurances so as to protect myself and my family. While it is important to have a sense of security, I wonder if my agents really know (or care) what their company do with our premium paid.

Today, I come across with news that life insurers companies, such as UK Prudential, Canadian Sun Life Financial Inc. invest billion of dollars into tobacco industries. One study published in the England Journal of Medicine written by Wesley Boyd revealed that insurance companies funds invest at least 4.4 billion dollars in companies whose affiliates produce cigarettes, cigars and chewing tobacco.

Tobacco has been considered the leading cause of lung cancer and a major risk factor for heart attack, stroke, pulmonary disease and cancer. It's main contribution factor to 5.4 million deaths a year, according to WHO.

The study also reveals that:
# US insurer Prudential Financial Inc. has 264.3 million dollars invested into three US tobacco companies, including Reynolds America and Philip Morris
# Canadian insurer Sun Life Financial Inc. has a stock portfolio with more than one billion dollars in two tobacco companies, including 890 million dollars in Philip Morris.
# Prudential Plc has 1.38 billion dollars in two tobacco companies, including British American Tobacco
# The US firms Northwestern Mutual and Massachusetts Mutual Life, and the Scottish firm Standard Life Plc. have substantial tobacco investments

The study proves that insurance companies only care about making profit contradicting to what they have been preaching in their business practices and values. Such an hypocrisy move should lead current policy holders and to-be policyholders to start pondering which insurance companies are living up to their core values. If insurance companies do not live up to their core values, can you expect them to truly value our protection, let alone our life?

Companies aside, I hope my agents won't just think about making a quick buck out of my pocket.

Family trip to KL & Genting

I have long planned a family-gathering holiday without success. Last week, I managed to realize the trip when we went to KL and Genting during the Lunar New Year festive season. It was a four-day, three-night trip. I myself, my wife, my son, my mom, my younger brother, my sister, and my mother-in-law were on board. Though there were some 'surprises' in my trip, overall, I think such a trip was a good approach to strengthen our ties. I could not reckon anytime in the past that we had such a trip.

As we grow older and have our own family life, I find it difficult to organize a gathering. Except 'Cheng Beng", the Chinese tradition of paying respect to the departed family members at the tomb, and Lunar New Year, there aren't many occasion where we can gather together. In addition to have the gathering on Lunar New Year, I also use the occasion to 'get away' from the city.

Wishing you all a very prosperous and wealthy Ox 'Niu' Year.

Genealogy of Wen family

Dream, Work, Vision: A quote from Bang Ali

Quote from Ali Sadikin, Indonesia, then Govenor of Jakarta, who said that:
'Manusia tanpa cita-cita adalah mati, aksi tanpa cita-cita itu buang waktu, cita-cita tanpa kerja hanyalah mimpi',

which means

'vision without action is merely a dream, action without vision just passes the time, vision with action can change the world'.

In memorium of Pak Ali Sadikin ((7 July 1927 – 20 May 2008) .

Critical Decision: To do or not to do?

Firstly, I wish you a happy and prosperous Lunar New Year. It was late, but Lunar New Year is celebrated until the fifteenth day of the first month of Chinese calendar. Since this year is Rat year, it marks the beginning of Lunar calendar's cylce. Further, it also marks the new milestone in my life. I was born in the year of Rat, so this is the third round of Rat's cycle that I have passed.

After working for 13 years, I am rather stuck with my current job. I am less motivated, and have less ambition now. Well, put it another way. Even if I have strong ambition and motivation, I do not see how it will help foster my career development. When I joined the new company, the CEO was sacked by the board. Along with her sacking, many of her loyalists also left the company. This strengtens my belief that there is no loyalty in any company that you work for. Even a CEO can be sacked, so can you.

In a nutshell, I should set my own loyalty, company does not have loyalty. To be able to fulfill my own future, I have to be out of Rat Race. I have tried once in setting up a company, and it was not successful. I hope to get new enlightenment. I need your prays and encouragement. Thanks Lord to give enlightenment for my future.

Middle East Trip

This is the first time I travel to Middle East, to a country called Bahrain. When I got out of plane, the strong wind with cold temperature chilled my lung. The temperature was probably below 10 degree celcius. I was rather unprepared, though I have brought one sweater with me. I bought a new jacket again to protect me from the cold wind.

In Arabic language, Bahrain literally means 'Two Seas'. Bahrain is the first Arab country that found oil well by an American company. However as there are not much oil reserves compared with neighbouring countries like Saudi and Qatar, the kingdom has to diverse its economies mainly in oil refinery, petrochemicals, aluminium, and more importantly tourism industries.

There is a causeway bridge linking Bahrain to the Saudi on the West. Since Bahrain is more open and liberal compared with Saudi, as a result, there are many Saudis flocking to Bahrain to have a more relax entertainment.

As this is my first time and longest overseas trip yet (I might be stucking here for the next 4 months), I will have more time to roam around. One thing to take note is that living costs are damn high here. One meal can take at least 1.5 to 2.5 Bahrain Dinar. One Bahrain Dinar equals to nearly SGD 4, making it the second most strongest currency after Kuwait Dinar (1 KD = 5 SGD). Taxi is also very expensive. One trip can cost BD5-8. Most Bahrainis have cars here. I have not found any public transports yet. The roads are narrow making the driving can be quite dangerous for those who are unfamiliar with the road signs here.

My other observation is that properties are booming here. I can see everywhere is constructing new buildings. I am not sure who is buying here, perhaps property speculators. Only Bahrainis are allowed to buy property here. There are some locations where foreigners can purchase properties here. Out of 750,000 population, 33% are foreigners, higher than Singapore's foreigners population.

The Middle East countries such as Bahrain, Dubai and Qatar are trying to use Singapore as their models to outgrow each others. It is interesting to see how the development looks like in the next 5 to 10 years. We'll see who will be the winners. Winner or not, Singapore benefits from the development in the Middle East through collaboration and trades.

Merry Christmas 2007 & Happy New Year 2008

Wishing you a very merry Christmas 2007 and Happy New Year 2008. May God bless you and your family throughout this festive season and years ahead.