Leadership lessons from a sub-contractor
Friday, 16 May 2008, 1:52 am | 9 views
Lim Chih Yang
It is not often that one can learn leadership lessons from The New Paper. While our local tabloid is a surprisingly good resource on how to manage one’s finances, enjoy fine dining, get the latest gossip, and contains the most comprehensive coverage of football news, it rarely comes up with soul-inspiring stuff.
So it was that I was very touched by this story, “I give his family $3,000 every Hari Raya”, that appeared in its pages on 30 April 2008.
Mr Lam Teck Foo, a sub-contractor, was fined a total of $150,000 for “failing to take reasonable and adequate fall protection measures, under the Workplace Safety and Health Act”. He was fined as a fatal accident had occurred to one of his workers, who fell to his death while working on the rooftop on September 2006. While his workers had been wearing safety helmets, safety goggles, gloves, safety harnesses and belts, they had no lifelines to secure their harnesses to.
The fine of $150,000 is huge when we look at Lam’s income tax return of a little over $43,000. He had not contested the charge and had in fact acknowledged his responsibility for the worker:
…I was not around the work site, but my foreman said that the worker was feeling dizzy. He was walking backwards when he fell off the roof. But, he admitted, that as the boss of the company, he is responsible for the safety of his workers…
The sub-contractor had also promised to give $3000 annually to the family of the deceased every Hari Raya for three years from the accident. On top of the gesture, he had also foot the bill for the burial, funeral and the chartering of his workers to attend the funeral, which worked out to an estimated $15,000. (The funeral took place in the Malaysian state of Terengganu – the hometown of the deceased worker, Mr Zainal Zakaria.)
While we are in no position to gauge Lam’s financial means, I am nevertheless touched by his gesture and sincere apology to the family. Feelings aside, though, a few questions are still in my mind. While Lam is the boss, he was not physically present at the worksite to personally supervise the workers, and ensure that his workers had their life-lines secured. So why, then, is he being held responsible for the accident?
Perhaps Lam should have taken a leaf out of our Deputy Prime Minister Wong Kan Seng’s example. Here is how the scenario would have played out had Lam been an attentive student in Wong’s leadership class.
1) Upon knowing that the accident had happened, Lam would have made a gesture of apology by telling the deceased family, “This should not have happened. I am sorry that it has.”
2) Then, he would have convened a Commission of Inquiry (COI), including one of his own safety officers as part of the committee.
3) Thirdly, he would then have released the COI’s findings and absolved himself of all blame, since he is the boss and he is reasonably not expected to be on site to check all lifelines.
4) Fourthly, he would have gotten his colleagues to be both cheerleader and defence attorney, and exhort everyone to “move on”.
5) Lastly, he would have lain low and waited for it to blow over.
Hey if Lam had learned his lesson, he would have saved his company a whopping $150,000 in fines, plus all the other costs he incurred in compensating the deceased’s family.
But no, Lam did not evade responsibility. In fact, he did just the opposite. He stood up, accepted his part of the blame, apologised to the family of the deceased, paid the $150,000 fine, paid for the funeral and even pledged to give the family $3,000 for the next three years at Hari Raya.
Now that, dear readers, is true leadership – from a sub-contractor.
Mr Lam has, according to The New Paper report, five children aged 3, 11, 12, 14 and 15. His request to pay the $150,000 fine over ten months was rejected by the authorities.
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About the author:
Chih-Yang is a Financial Advisor. He was previously a Project Manager in the corporate world where he regularly clocks 14-hour-day-work in the office. He is passionate about current affairs, international politics, social concerns and loves to write on issues close to Singaporeans’ heart. Chih-Yang is also active in sports and serving in his church. When he is not catching up on the latest news he will be following the fortunes of his beloved Newcastle United Football Club.
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Read also: What do domestic helpers have to do with Wong Kan Seng? by Blue Heeler.
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Great story. Shows how much our leaders have lost their moral compass.
Good article.
Perhaps to offer my view: The sub-contractor is able to identify and empathize with the victim because, like him, he is also struggling to make ends meet - both are struggling to provide means of livelihood for the family.
Compare that to someone used to a life of luxury, highly paid, virtually untouchable (the military junta in Myanmar is a good example) - can you blame them for the lack of empathy? They may have long forgotten how tough life is for the poor!
I hope the leadership in Singapore will not go down this line. Else, we are doomed indeed.
Regards.
When one is responsible, it is simple to see.
When one shirks responsibilities, it is also easy to see.
Heart warming story to know that there are some folks who are compassionate about their workers. Compare this to the other contractors who abandon the workers when an accident occurs. Of course, it could be argued that the latter category were illegal workers, but as always… the employer is ultimately responsible come what may.
Great power comes with great responsibilities but over here in Singapore it has a great tendency to associate with great Taiji Master with great salary. When disaster strikes, start to point fingers at everybody except oneself.
SALUTE to the contractor …..
yeah he made a mistake…no chance given…got fined,cant pay fine by installments
too bad he is’nt *SomeOne*…. if not he cud juz leave it n move on
If the contractor had taken a leaf out of WKS’ book, he would not have failed to remind everyone that while one worker was dead, there’re many still alive, and many workers have worked for him and lived.
Perhaps netizens could band together to alleviate the plight of this impossibly honest person? I for one offer my marketing and/or writing services to Mr Lam and if anyone can design a website for his firm, I can easily provide the content. In addition, if we are able to locate Mr Lam and the firm he runs, we can recommend his services to those we know.
Although, the financial repercussions cannot be undone for Mr Lam and his firm, I believe that his demonstration of humanity can still be rewarded by facilitating the growth of his business to offset those repercussions. Only by recognising and rewarding those who act selflessly in the face of personal ruin can there be spiritual justice.
If anyone is able to locate Mr Lam or his firm, please drop me a line at gangasudhan@email.com, thanks. Please feel free to contact me if you are keen to contribute to helping him in some way or other as well.
Re-read the ST report. Mr Lam’s Singapore firm is
LTF ENGINEERING CONSTRUCTION PTE. LTD.
Registration No: 200605614E
Address: 15 Jalan Terusan Singapore 619294
Tel: 62683075
Fax: 62683287
This proves beyond doubt that sometimes you don’t really need to be some high-standing officials to know the important things in life.
Mr Lam’s action is indeed worthy of praise.
A life was lost but Mr Lam’s compassion, understanding and sense of responsibility perhaps brought some comfort to those most affected by the death of the worker, his family.
Indeed, leadership is not about how well one may be able to hide behind the cloak of authority.
To put it bluntly: Mr Lam, a simple sub-contractor, puts our highly-placed Deputy Prime Minister Wong Kan Seng to shame.
To me, this humble contractor demonstrated the meaning of “ACTION SPEAKS LOUDER THAN WORDS “
This is terrible on the part of the subcontractor. How could be do such a thing. It only encourages a “Culture of Fear,” in our society by making bosses responsible for the people under their care.
Long live the courts for making him pay it off at one go! I mean we cannot have workers developing a “culture of complacency” and expecting their bosses to do anything else other than to collect the profits.
No Siree, this is Singapore and Mr Lam has done us all a great disservice by actually taking care of the people under him.
Honourable people should be put on Online Citizen as much as putting those dishonourable photo of greedy coffers.
Can Online Citizen put his photo on the site to encourage such deed and act ?
Maybe two categories are needed
Hall of Fame
For those who are honourable and do the right thing like Mr Lam for the society
Hall of Shame
For those coffers who behave like clown and do thing right for their master and Mee Siam Mai Hum… too many to put their names here. Wong Can’t Sing, Joker Lee to name a few. And most importantly destroy the social fabric of society and pretend nothing happen. No begger, no poor… act blur
He is a true leader who is willing to take up responsibility!
Mr Lam, Jia You!!!!!
Our leaders always say learn from the private sector. The PM and DPM and everyone in the cabinet should take a leaf from the courage that BA chief executive Willie Walsh demonstrated when he said he will not be taking his bonus because of the Heathrow fiasco, despite the carrier posting profits of £883m.
Mr Walsh said he felt taking the money would be “inappropriate in the context of the very disappointing opening of Heathrow’s Terminal 5 in March”.
This is what is true courage, not just gutless, spineless bapoh who can only say sorry that is has happened.
If WKS is reading this, I wonder how he feels. I hope someone close to him is reading this, and pass this story and feedback from netizens to him. I bet he and his gang would simply click the page off if they should ever come across this report. With such leaders, Singapore is not likely to be a gracious society to live in … just a playground of the rich and powerful, maybe.
It’s a good thing the WKS episode happened I think. The govt lost a lot of goodwill and its reputation for competence at very little cost to the people. After all MSK probably won’t be able to launch an attack still less a succesful one anytime soon. All in all, a good trade, though not big enough or close enough to the election to make a significant difference.
in our society, money is more important than moral. u die yr business. that’s the spirit to doomship. well done to garmen. 1st world country by lip service, 3rd world country by deed. i working hard to ship out of this sick place soon.
Maybe we do not know enough of what really happened to be able to pass judgement. Imagine if Mas was released because Osama threatened to attack Singapore if he is not released? Imagine that it was for the greater good of Singapore that if Mas is released then Singapore will be assured of no attacks. Our authorities will be acting for the greater good then if this actually happened. All those lapses will be forgiven if the “escape” is for the greater good of Singapore.
This is true leadership shown. A sub contractor not getting millions but prove he is a man. When are our leaders showing this kind of gut and kindness? WKS can be called a pussycat. Dear pussy pussy who are you hiding behind now?
In every society, there are virtuous(respectable/honourable) men and there are crooks!
Now this is what I called integrity, accountability, moral compass, sense of responsibility and humility.
Top Print Edition Stories
Published May 17, 2008
BA chief refuses bonus despite record profits
He says £700,000 payout is not right after Heathrow debacle
(LONDON) British Airways has registered record profits and will pay a dividend for the first time in seven years - but its chief executive, Willie Walsh, has decided to forgo his own bonus. Mr Walsh said that it would be inappropriate, given the shambles in the opening days of moving to BA’s new terminal at Heathrow Airport.
Mr Walsh: Insists his position is not threatened by T5 fiasco
BA reported a net profit of £680 million (S$1.82 billion) for the year, compared with £290 million for the previous 12 months. Its shares rose 4 per cent on the London Stock Exchange and the company decided to return £58 million to shareholders, paying five pence a share.
Mr Walsh would have been entitled to a bonus of up to £700,000 based on various performance targets, but he decided to refuse it following the chaotic opening of Heathrow’s Terminal 5 on March 27. Problems with the baggage handling system led to hundreds of flight cancellations and thousands of bags going astray.
‘I felt it would be inappropriate in the context of the very disappointing opening of Terminal 5 in March,’ Mr Walsh said.
‘So despite the fact it was a record year in terms of our financial performance, I advised the chairman that I thought it would be inappropriate.’
Mr Walsh said that there had been no pressure ‘whatsoever’ from other board members and big investors for him to forgo his bonus payment. But he said: ‘We have let our customers down and I take responsibility for that.’
BA operations director Gareth Kirkwood and customer services director David Noyes resigned following the Terminal 5 fiasco and this week, Mark Bullock, managing director of Heathrow’s owner BAA announced that he was stepping down.
Mr Walsh, too, had initially faced calls to resign but insisted that he felt his position was not under pressure, adding: ‘I feel like I have just won the Premier League with these financial results.’
The airline reported its widest-ever operating margin of 10 per cent. It was Mr Walsh, who joined in 2005, who had set the 10 per cent margin goal for the company. BA’s 42,000 other employees will still receive their bonus from a £35 million bonus pool for meeting the target.
The profit hike came despite a year of soaring oil costs that saw the airline’s fuel bill top £2 billion.
Mr Walsh said: ‘This is an outstanding financial result for the company despite rising fuel prices and significant economic slowdown in the last six months.’
The company now plans to move its long-haul flights to the new terminal from June. — AP, Bloomberg
No one who has any pride would ever shake the hand of such leaders. I would not even look them in the face but would spit on their face in my mind (I don’t want to end up in prison). Thiefs, murderers and robbers are much better than a deceitful leader who betrays his own men’s loyalty in him to not only lead them but also protect them by taking ownership.
Daniel.
Well Said! Their are really nothing beyond our shores.
The handling of Mas Selamat’s escape showed that our ministers and MPs are well-paid managers, not leaders. They run the country well enough, but do they build a nation? There is definitely something very wrong with our society if we find great difficulty attracting people to serve the country even with high salary. Leaders mai accountability, to fix problems and buy votes, anyone? What to do? If the best man for the job already like that, how to find more capable people?
You do not have to look far to understand the leadership qualities of our great leaders. We have seen repeatedly how they never take ownership and yet want to reward themselves millions. Its always a global problem or the people’s problem when something goes wrong but it was the governments brilliant effort for any success. When they make a bloody major screw-ups like mismanaging public institution, welfare organisation or even letting a terrorist escape, its let’s move on and claiming that a leader never walks away (yes, from his million dollar salary). A political opponents does a innocent mistake (misplacing a form) he is a crucified and asked to do the honourable thing and resign, if not he gets sued till he has no pants. Well we all know that sueing people in a country where you are bound to get a summary judgement from a honourable judge is how much your honour is worth. It is not pathetic and down right obvious that as a first world leader you only want to protect your honour in your own country where the entire population knows what is the verdict is even without knowing the content of the case. What is even more pathetic is when they try to defend themselves with all the obvious excuses which many a despotic leader have used in history.
Dishonourables are despise in history, long after they are dead.
And
INFAMY lasts far longer than glory!
patriot.
In many other countries the government officials seem to fear the press because the freemdom of the press.It checks the government. In Singapore it is the opposite, the press is afraid of the government and does not engage in debate with them for the benefit of the nation.what we have here is the government having Freedom From The Press(read this lnice phrase in a journal). And accountability is thrown out the door because the people’s voice(the press) does not question and ask all the akward questions on behalf of the people. A censored press makes the government hear what it wants to hear(like the advert: hear only the good stuff).Some might even believe that that is the people’s voice instead of their own.
But hey the esplanade looks good right?They must be doing a great job.
A good friend once asked me this question : Who guards the guards?
What I understand is that the sub-contractor is/was based in Malaysia (no sane Singaporean would have FIVE children in this day and age) and I believe he has extended his business reach into Singapore. That being the case, the argument that it is more a case of a ‘Malaysian-influenced’ business philosophy as opposed to the cold, heartless cutthroat ‘Singapore Way’ of doing business, can be put forward.
If this proposition is indeed true, I wonder what this says about the Singaporean ‘high-class’ mentality versus the Malaysian ‘relac-one-corner’ mentality. We may very well be the thoroughbred society, but they still understand the meaning of the word ‘community’…
Give the sub-contractor a Tiger! But seriously, the authorities should show some compassion for this man. Even if they cannot or would not reduce the fine, let him pay the fine by instalments. That is the least the govt should do.