EZ-Link phase-out reversal is a reminder that systems should serve people

Hello.

After almost two weeks of public outcry, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) this week reversed a decision to make public transport users switch entirely to the SimplyGo payment system.

Much of the unhappiness has centred around what commuters viewed as a step back from the legacy EZ-Link system: SimplyGo card users cannot see fare deductions and card balances when they tap out of public buses and trains. People expect more from a Smart Nation. Systems should serve people – not the other way around, say NUS Business School’s Emir Hrnjic and Monetics’ Gordon R Clarke.

In more sobering news, a 16-year-old Singaporean has been placed under Internal Security Act restrictions for far-right extremism. He aspired to conduct attacks overseas and identified as a white supremacist.

The appeal of white supremacy to youths in Singapore seems counterintuitive at the outset, not least because a number of white supremacist groups are anti-Asian, says RSIS’ Kalicharan Veera Singam.

We hope you enjoy our selection of commentaries this week.

Charlene Tan

Senior Editor, Commentary

LTA reversal on EZ-Link phase out is a reminder that systems should serve people

People in Singapore expect more than a tech upgrade that feels like a step back in user experience. Forcing commuters onto SimplyGo would have been a step in the wrong direction, say NUS Business School’s Emir Hrnjic and Monetics’ Gordon R Clarke.

Tengah residents’ complaints reflect age-old problem of moving into non-mature estates

It is no secret that there are trade-offs for the first batch of homeowners in non-mature estates, but there are significant upsides, says finance blogger Dawn Cher.

Why would a Singaporean youth identify as a white supremacist?

The appeal of white supremacy to Singaporean youth seems counterintuitive at the outset, not least because a number of white supremacist groups are anti-Asian, says RSIS’ Kalicharan Veera Singam.

‘Moving on’ from COVID-19 may not be possible for some people

No matter how eager many in Singapore are to put the pandemic behind us, more can be done to protect our vulnerable from COVID-19, says infectious disease specialist Leong Hoe Nam.

The Middle East is a tinderbox ready to explode

There is a risk that the multiple crises engulfing the Middle East will eventually become unmanageable and spin out of control, says international security expert Stefan Wolff.

Is the ‘SG Uniform’ of Singaporean men practical or plain lazy?

With the UNIQLO AIRism oversized tee being a staple in most closets, no wonder there’s a stereotype that all men in Singapore dress the same way, says university student Frederick Lim.

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