Security in Singapore offices - where you have inflexibility to the max!

These are real life stories encountered by real suay people who met real inflexible security robots at the lobby before the lifts to the offices, at Fusionopolis that very hi-tech office.

Your temperature is different before and after Starbucks

During the SARS period, a temperature taking counter was set up at the lobby. Colleague A went downstairs to get a cup of coffee, and had his temperature taken at the counter. About 15 minutes later, he came back to the lobby with his Starbucks coffee...

Kayu Security Officer: Please take your temperature at the counter.
Colleague A: But I've only taken my temperature just now!
Kayu Security Officer: Yes Sir, I know. But you need to take your temperature again when you enter the building.
Colleague A: But I only went to Starbucks to get coffee! You've already taken my temperature 15 minutes ago!
Kayu Security Officer: Yes Sir, I know. But it is our policy to take temperature of anyone re-entering the building.


Your identity has changed after your run

A group of us went for our weekly run and upon returning, Colleague B realised that she forgot to bring her staff pass...

Kayu Security Officer: Where is your pass?
Colleague B: I forgot to bring my pass down. Can you let me pass?
Kayu Security Officer: No.
Colleague B: Aiyo, but you can recognise me right?
Kayu Security Officer: Yes I know you from Company XYZ. But you cannot enter without a pass. Please call one of your colleague to come down and fetch you.


You should always have a spare IC

Colleague C forgot to bring his staff pass to work, so he exchanged his IC for a visitor pass. Then Colleague C went downstairs to tapao lunch and again forgot to bring his visitor pass, which he left at his table.

Kayu Security Officer: Where is your pass?
Colleague C: Aiyah, I forgot to bring my pass down.
Kayu Security Officer: You cannot enter without a pass. Please get a pass at the counter.
Colleague C: Har? My IC already with you leh, what do you want me to change with? Can you check your records instead? You can find my IC at the counter.
Kayu Security Officer: No, we can't check our record. You have to use your IC to get another pass.
Colleague C: Hello? My IC is already with you! What do you want me to use to change for another pass?
Kayu Security Officer: If you can't change for another pass, please call your colleague to come down and get you.
Colleague C: Can't you just check your record now? You can find my IC there!
Kayu Security Officer: No, this is against our policy.


You can use Angelina Jolie's pass and still walk pass us

There was one time that while taking kopi downstairs, I realised I needed to go upstairs and get something in the office but I left my pass in the office. My colleague who looks totally utterly ultimately very different from me lent me her pass. I flashed the pass and went right through that super tight security.

How JTC can just terminate my season parking, because they can!

I've been working at Fusionopolis for years and has been parking there for years. There is a huge basement carpark (all the way to B6 I believe) but alas, most lots are either reserved for those scholars at A*STAR, or are visitor lots. Which is why I was not given a season parking lot at the basement carpark, and have to park at the surface instead.

Here's the interesting part. The basement carpark is never full.

Because the season parking lots allocated to each company is based on the floor area of the company, and since that A*STAR is almost like owning the building, they took up most of the season parking lots. And since there are not enough driving scholars to take up the season parking lots, there are endless empty season parking lots in the carpark everyday.

But well, at least I managed to secure a season parking lot at the surface carpark. Until now.

Today, I've received an sms with this message:

"Please note that fusionopolis surface carpark will be terminated wef 1april 2012. please call 67494119 for more info. Thank you. From P Parking".

Yap. Just a short and sweet sms is needed to chase me, among the other season parkers, out of the carpark. Because according to the season parking contract, as long as they give a minimum of one month's notice, they can terminate our season parking any time they want. No explanation and no alternate solution required. Bravo.

I've got no idea why is JTC closing the surface carpark and what they're going to do with it (among the other endless constructions in the area). But what I do know is that there are now many season parkers like me going to tear our hairs out looking for other possible season car parks around the area.

While the basement carpark is still empty.

According to their website, JTC is "Singapore's leading industrial infrastructure specialist spearheading the planning and development of a dynamic industrial landscape." Right. When they can't even handle their tenants' employees' season parking efficiently.