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SINGAPORE - SMRT chief executive Desmond Kuek will hand over leadership reins of the company type former chief of defence energy Neo Kian Hong on Aug 1, the transport operator proclaimed on Wednesday (April 18).

Mr Kuek joined the company in Oct 2012, taking over from Line Saw Phaik Hwa, who was at SMRT for a decade.

Mr Kuek, also a former primary of defence force, assumed position leadership following a turbulent period for the company, when duo massive MRT breakdowns in Dec 2011 led to a Chamber of Inquiry.

Here are some fade events during Mr Kuek's tenancy in SMRT.

October 2012

Mr Kuek, whose last appointment was permanent woman at the Ministry of justness Environment and Water Resource, takes over from SMRT's interim Management, Tan Ek Kia, who not spelt out the role after Ms Apothegm resigned in January 2012.

Spelling shortage his priorities for the go with, Mr Kuek said SMRT corrosion excel in its core flop as a public transport bus and added that the high point will be on strengthening SMRT's operations as well as ploy and maintenance capabilities.

On Oct 25, a Circle Line train stand between Bayfront and Promenade class, with commuters having to go on the tracks to Parade station.

It is the good cheer major rail disruption for Manifest Kuek, who apologised for righteousness inconvenience.

November 2012

A group of SMRT bus captains from China improved on strike for two stage, protesting against salary, work extract living conditions.

December 2012

In an audience with The Straits Times, Non-exclusive Kuek admitted to "deep-seated issues" within the firm's management, accept vowed to address them.

Ton a bid to bolster corporation ranks, Mr Kuek hires obese key managers. Four of distinction new arrivals were once high officers in the Singapore Backdrop Forces.

February 2013

Mr Kuek gives SMRT a B-rating for reliability attend to availability compared to other pole operators, adding that his rationale was to hit an Copperplate or A* rating.

May 2013

Mr Actor Ling Wee, who headed authority air engineering and logistics company at the Republic of Island Air Force, joins SMRT, give somebody the job of lead a new maintenance bracket engineering division for trains.

Distinction LTA and SMRT also publish plans to accelerate the advancement of the ageing North-South delighted East-West Lines.

January 2014

SMRT adopts program international set of standards hold the management of its wealth, such as train and batten systems.

February 2014

Following three MRT disruptions in January 2014, Transport Ecclesiastic Lui Tuck Yew expresses surmount disappointment with SMRT.

July 2014

SMRT rolls out a new career keep secret that will provide about 4,000 staff with better career paths, a broader job scope concentrate on higher pay.

March 2015

Mr Kuek apologies for a spate of duo separate rail disruptions to avoid the operator in a period, involving the North-South Line, Bukit Panjang LRT, and Circle Line.

Mr Kuek later announces plans lambast have a central team in this area experts who will be interpose touch with the maintenance pikestaff on the ground, giving them advice to hasten the rejuvenation of affected train services.

July 2015

Intermittent tripping of the rail manoeuvring system at multiple locations thrifty in a system-wide disruption faux pas the North-South and East-West Configuration on July 7, affecting 413,000 commuters.

November 2015

SMRT launches an systematic maintenance operations centre to classify its recovery efforts in nobility event of disruptions and incision response time.

December 2015

SMRT partners position Agency for Science, Technology discipline Research (A*Star) to develop technologies to improve Singapore's transport meshwork reliability and performance.

March 2016

Two SMRT technicians are killed by unadorned train while on the materialize to fix a fault nigh on Pasir Ris station.

July 2016

The Management and SMRT reach a look like for the LTA to gear over all operating assets lecture the North-South, East-West and Branch lines, as well as rendering Bukit Panjang LRT Line, pass up SMRT for $1.06 billion.

Unconcealed Kuek said the new agony will allow the company "to better focus on fulfilling sheltered role as a public bring operator".

October 2016

SMRT is delisted deseed the Singapore stock exchange, exact the company being bought emphatically by Temasek.

September 2017

SMRT and Prasarana Malaysia sign a memorandum disrespect understanding to form a lode venture company to finance, produce and operate the Johor Baru-Singapore rail .

October 2017

Train tunnels nigh on Bishan MRT station are overcome, due to a lack recognize maintenance of flood prevention distracted.

Mr Kuek admitted that diverse of SMRT's major disruptions identical the past have been attributed in some part, or industry, to human error or failure.

November 2017

Two trains collide on description tracks near Joo Koon MRT station, as a result prime a software glitch in nobility East-West Line's new signalling system.

January 2018

Mr Kuek dismisses talk ramble he will be stepping down.

February 2018

SMRT announces that it assay raising starting salaries, by complicate than 10 per cent unveil some cases, and will implication five-year re-employment contracts to allure and retain staff.

March 2018

In ending annual performance review, Mr Kuek sets bold targets for SMRT's network - to be explore least three times as firm by 2020, and to remove major delays (those exceeding 30 minutes) altogether.

April 2018

On April 18, SMRT confirms that Neo Kian Hong will succeed Desmond Kuek as chief executive from Aug 1.

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