Scott Adams' role model?

If you don't know who Dilbert is, it's time to crawl out of your shell.
Scott Adams has one of the best syndicated cartoon columns that really touch on today's working reality.
Though he claims that Dilbert is based on his own work experience working in his cubicle, some recent event in Singapore makes me think that he might also have a role model for his boss.

For those still uninitiated, Dilbert is the engineer on the right. His pointy haired boss is on the left.

In Singapore over the past week, the big news is of Mr TK Lee, one of the 3 Presidents of the government's Temasek Holdings, suing Primus Pacific Partners over a rental dispute.
Here's a photo of Mr Lee taken off the news site.

Singapore bans smoking !

From The Sunday Times, 1^st April 2012.

SINGAPORE - Singapore has classified cigarettes and tobacco products as a Class 3 Narcotics as from 1^st April 2012. This means all tobacco products must be sold under license with smokers submitting their personal particulars before being allowed to buy their favourite smokes.

In line with the recent World Tobacco Organization 15^th World Congress conference held in Singapore 2 weeks ago, the local authorities have reclassified tobacco as a Class 3 Narcotic meaning it will now come under the Drug Abuse and Narcotic Act.

This new ruling will mean that all smokers need to register to make purchases. Importers and manufacturers will require licenses to produce and distribute the tobacco products as if it were controlled pharmaceuticals.

Singapore will be the 1^st country in the world to implement the resolution passed during the recent Congress.

Urging countries to stay united against tobacco companies, World Health Organization Director General Margaret Chan said: “What an industry wants to see is a domino effect. When one country’s resolve falters under the pressure of costly, drawn-out litigation and threats of billion dollar settlement, others with similar intentions are likely to topple as well.”

Most countries are reluctant or unable to implement the resolutions due to commercial pressures.

According to ministry spokesperson, Madam Boh Seo Hoon, distributors have already been informed a month ago and their retailers have been prepared to implement the new restricted sale policies. Retailers will be given a 4 weeks exemption period for them to get use to the new implementation ruling, which requires smokers to sign for their purchases.

Retailers caught selling to unregistered customers can be fined up to $2000 for a 1^st offence. Repeated offenders will have their licenses withdrawn.

At the recent WHO Congress, Health Minister Mr Gan Kim Yong noted that while Singapore may have one of the lowest prevalence of smoking in the world, the rates have been picking up.

Dr Chan agreed with Singapore’s approach towards tackling smoking, while WHO Tobacco Free Initiative director Douglas Bettcher applauded Singapore’s effort to drive down the prevalence of smoking.

Related Links: WHO urges countries to stay united againsttobacco companies.

Smokers up in arms over new ruling.

                        Tobacco distributors seeking legal consultations.