I was quite frustrated on last Sunday when I was out for work. As a result of this, I was particularly skeptical and thoughtful about things. In hokkien, this is called guai lan.
On that particular day, I was going to a condo. Actually there are two sorts of condos, one is with a laxer security and the other with more oxymoronic security. This particular one that I visited last Sunday was of the latter kind. By right, all the security guards have to ask any visitors to sign on the guest list, putting down details like:
1. NRIC and name
2. The unit to visit and the purpose of the visit
3. Time of entry
4. Signature
By principle, I do not see a point in giving these details. Firstly, I do not know what they are going to do with the book after it's finished. There are a lot of details that are personal and there is a risk that these private information can fall on wrong hands. The security guards watch the premises, then who watches the security guards? Secondly, there is no confirmation by the security guards that these details are even correct in the first place. If the purpose of writing these details is to catch those who are going to do suspicious things, then obviously it wouldn't work. Normal guests who fill in honestly will not do suspicious things, suspicious characters going in will not fill it up honestly.
As such, I always walk in as though I'm the resident of the condos. If they stop me, then I'll fill up, but in such a scribbled form that it satisfies their request but yet at the same time, does not yield any information. I think I'd even wrote an NRIC like S1234567 and it went through. If they are happy, I'm happy.
So on last Sunday, this security guard stopped me from going into the condo premises. He asked me rather rudely to sign in. I asked him why I should sign in. He was erm...ah... I think he had never been asked this question before. Then he replied that since I am an outsider, I must sign in. Then he waved vaguely behind him that there is a camera and it will track me.
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| Do you know why security wears black? They are trying to blend into the background to be non-intrusive |
Do you know why there is rain? It's because there is water up in the sky so it drops down. It's a non-answer to a question.
If I had more time, I would request politely to meet up with the management concerning the security of the condos to ask them the questions that I had in mind with regards to filling in my details. You know what's the funny thing? I've been there for a least 2 years and had entered the condo at least 1-2 times a week. There is no excuse for not having seen me around. He is not doing his job well because the best form of security is based on a non-intrusive kind of scrutiny - you observe the people that comes in and recognise the familiar faces (either resident or not), sieving out the unfamiliar faces and observing them further.
I had been to condos in Orchard area and they are in familiar talking terms with me. Sometimes I'll just chit-chat with them and they tell me gossips about this and that. So I know that it can be done and it had been done in other places. It's just how individuals treat their job that distinguishes them. I've also know this particular MRT security lady (those that stand near the gates to check on luggage and bags). She never fails to strike up conversation with anyone whom she stops to check their belongings. My gf chatted with her for 30 mins before, so I know.
You know the saying, the best bodyguards do not use weapons? I think it can be applied to security too. The best kind of security is subtle and non-intrusive. It is based on a network of relationships so strong that if someone tries something funny, the people involved in the network will try their best to stop them simply because they view the other people as part of their own flesh and blood.
I could be idealistic, yes, but then again, I'm very guai lan that particular day, so I don't care.
30 comments :
Security guards take $1200 per month. If they have intelligence to reason like you, they probably wouldn't be a security guard in the first place. Sometimes you get 1 or 2 guard doing more than just following orders, perhaps when they are new. But these things happen everywhere.
Why do staff need to wear their Security ID Pass at all times in the office including CEO and boss of the company?
Do you have an answer?
Hi anonymous,
First I'm not intelligent, I'm just being pissed off by some of their attitude. Perhaps they had a bad day like I did. I do not blame any individual guards, they are cordial to me generally.
Second, having less pay doesn't mean they cannot be intelligent. In that case, volunteers are the stupidest and dumbest because they get paid nothing, while those big shots who lost billions of dollars in the financial crisis are the most intelligent. I'm not asking guards to be intelligent or stupid, just have enough EQ to handle situation to make their job easier, in fact. I think it's more of a poorly trained and poorly motivated guards...at best it's an illusion of security, nothing more.
Hi bro8888,
I've no idea at all. I am not even aware that people have to wear ID at all times. Sounds silly to me.
Do you know why?
same as the Security Guard. To make people consciously aware that security is everybody business including the boss. Even the smallest gesture of security sense counts
Security guards wearing uniforms and ID are analogous to police and soldiers. There are reasons to many phenomenons out there.
LP,
Lower pay = lower motivation.
Volunteers = high motivation because using their own time which is their own $$$ ?
Some time we need to give people chance to carry out their job according to their job specifications and it is not right to see their job specification through our own view.
They are paid to do their jobs.
Not happy. Don't go there.
Actually another similar situation is at airport. Come back from overseas carry small bag but still kena check by Customs whereas others with bigger bag can walk through. LL also what. How to guai lan ? When you guai lan, you only put stress on everybody including yourself. Sometimes Tan Jiak boh pian. They can stop you from going in also LL.
Just 1 question - Song bo?
Hi bro8888,
Unreasonable people that challenge the system are the ones that change the world. Reasonable people will just follow the existing framework.
I do not agree with you that if you don't like something, we should just walk away from it. Pick your own worthy fight.
Regarding gesture of security...I agree with you. But I'm also thinking that if a paper dog is better than no dog, because it gives people a false sense of security.
I think i'm being too theoretical here..
Hi Ken,
Sorry, I do not get your point you're trying to bring across...care to elaborate?
Hi anonymous,
So many anonymous, I don't even know which anonymous I'm replying to. Anyway, I think the point here is that salary has nothing to do with intelligence. Hmm, salary and motivation? I think there is a relation but up to a certain point. For example, if I earn 10,000 per month, I would rather earn 1k less so that I can rest more or spend some time with family/friends.
A bit digressing..
Hi Anonymous 5:34,
I kind of treasure my guai lan mood. Why? It makes me think and act beyond my usual behaviour because of my strong emotions. In circumstances like these, my guai lan mode can be a very strong motivator to start things that I normally wouldn't.
Hi anonymous 7:31,
Song bo?
1. Getting angry over a small matter like this is beh song.
2. Voicing out my opinion to the guard on why I should fill up my details and seeing him respond in such manner is sibei song.
3. Putting it on the blog as my diary is sibei song.
4. Arguing about it over the comments is beh song.
You still don't get it.
These security guards are just doing their job and make a living. There are job instructions laid down by his bosses and they have to follow them if they still want their bonus.
From time to time their boss may be there to do spot check and they have to be extra on-the-ball.
There is no need to pick a fight and guai lan to a low rank worker of a security company on procedures and processes. They are not directly in control of them.
You should write directly to the CEO of the security company and tell CEO what you think of them.
Hi bro8888,
You also don't get it.
I'm not targeting individuals. Did I mention that I was writing my details down when I asked him why I should write it? I understand their plight so I'm targeting the system, never the individuals who are part of it. I mentioned that most guards are cordial to me and I generally have no ill to speak of them.
I've already mentioned in my post or comments that I would wish to speak to the management with regards to this practice of filling in details. If I have the time.
I know you treasure your guai lan mood and can be that unreasonable person that challenge the system and change the world.
But there is no need to impress it on a low rank worker in a company who is most likely to have the least control over his job instructions.
For that incident may be his boss is around so he is extra-on.
It is normal for workers to be extra-on when bosses are on the ground.
LP,
Would you prefer if they keep your IC instead of filling the form with your details ? How then are they going to know who you are if you don't fill the details ?
I too have argued with factory security that they should note down my details and return my IC, sometimes without success. But LL still have to do business with the company so have to comply. Ultimately, change the system if you can but with the people who are in a position to make that decision. But you want to guai lan on such matters, is IMHO a waste of time. But that is just me.
Y
Hi Anonymous,
No, I would loath to give up my IC in exchange for a pass.
First of all, mine is a condo. A factory with high security I can understand because people can go in and steal things. A condo?? Anyway, the point is that if I fill in the details, they wouldn't know if it's true or fake, so would it matter anyway?
A waste of time indeed...I agree. I must still protest, esp when I'm in a disagreeable mood.
LP,
MRT security lady (those that stand near the gates to check on luggage and bags). She never fails to strike up conversation with anyone whom she stops to check their belongings. My gf chatted with her for 30 mins before, so I know.
That is terrible. I hope she was not on duty when she chatted with your girlfriend for 30 mins. Otherwise, she may be good with PR but job wise, she has failed.
Ali
In that case, you should be even more guai lan and kao pek to the MCST that their security is not doing their job but going through the motion only.
Remember the article in the newspaper quite sometime ago where the reporter sign their credit card chit off as Mickey Mouse and the cashiers still accepted them ?
Y
Ali
Do you think for a minute the MRT security staff are effective at all?! I have done reservist doing protection of installations at Changi Airport and can tell you what MRT have is TOTALLY useless.
In fact, it gives a false sense of security.
First of all, I am not sure how well trained they are to know how to scan for potential bombs hidden in luggage or equipment. Secondly for an MRT station like City Hall or Bugis, do you know how many thousands of people go through per hour. Practically impossible to effectively do spot checks and they do not do 100% checks at all.
Thirdly, these people are usually older and doesn't look fit enough to handle someone who gets physically violent. Not sure what they can do.
And if you notice, the security officers are not in action around the clock when the MRT is running. I tend to notice I don't see them past 8 or 9 pm in the evenings.
Be well and prosper.
Panzer,
I have no argument and cannot comment on the effectiveness of the security in MRT stations.
But that is not the point I was making. If one of your staff spend 30 minutes chit-chatting with someone while on the job, would you consider them as having good PR, a good and conscientious worker or a bad example for your other staff ? LP brought it up as an example and I am just pointing out the fallacy.
Ali
Hi Ali,
In my line of work, there are two kinds of inattention - passive and active. There are people who are quiet but are immersed in their own thoughts and there are people who are noisy and disruptive too. Both are not paying attention, though it's easier to spot on the latter than the former.
If you must know, the lady is doing both her work and chatting. She was checking my gf's bag and they started talking. I do not know if she is checking other bags while she is chatting as I'm not present. Even 30 mins could be an estimation only.
I agree with PG that the job of checking belonging is just for show and I disagree that chatting with the people they are checking is a distraction to your job.
Hi Y,
I'm not that bad. People are making a living as bro8888 had said. Must spare a thought for them.
I think I had put in an IC of S1234567 as well. I still went through.
Hi PG,
Seems like I'm not the only one who thinks that having such 'show's are bad because it gives a false sense of security.
It's a reaction after terrorist tried to bomb one of our mrt stations. I kind of think that the mrt police will do a better job but minglng around and not doing random checks. Less intrusive for one thing.
LP,
"I disagree that chatting with the people they are checking is a distraction to your job."
Those are not my meaning. The key here is chatting for 30 mins and the time was given by you. Nowhere did I say chatting is a distraction to doing their job. I can only comment base on the information you give.Please check my question again.
The thing about security at the MRT is that if they are too strict, you will have congestion and there will be delays. Then all hell will break lose as people will kpkb about being late for work and so on and so forth. So what is the compromise ? Be strict and meticulous which means delays or bo pian, close one eye ? I will be the first to admit that I don't have the answer. Heng ah.
Ali
Hi Ali,
Sorry if I misunderstand you.
I agree...too strict, you can't do it. Too loose, no point in checking. How to find the middle path? I also have no answers.
LP,
No worries. All of us learn something new sometimes through discussions. The important thing to remember is to agree to disagree sometimes.
I can relate to what you faced because I was in the MCST of a small condo with 18 units only for 13 years.
Security is not cheap. Getting good security is very expensive and residents are not willing to pay for it. Cheap security is what you have described and went through. Security guards are invariably retirees or not physically strong to be depended on if required and do not have the best of attention to details.
Finally, we decided to heck with it. Install auto gate and let the individual resident screen their own visitors with a speakerphone system. Not the best of solutions but nobody can kpkb as there was no better solution.
Many times, it is easy to comment until you experience it yourself and when you have to solve the problem, you begin to appreciate the difficulties in coming to an amicable solution and are more sympathetic to those who are responsible.
Ali
Hi Ali,
Yes, u are right. By discussion with various pple, I find that my initial pt of view is too narrow, whethe i'm guai lan or not. It's always gd to hear dissenting view pts, even though they are not easy to swallow at times.
Thks for giving the pt of view of someone who is sourcing out for security. Actually, i think the idea of having the visitors speak thru phone to the residents is a better idea than hiring security guards at the gates.
I shall temper my viewpts in the future with regards to security, haha
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