Hurray to our “world class transportation system”…. Hurray to the PTC’s price increase. We should have price increase to compensate the “world class” system.

Also, lets not be disillusioned about SMRT and Delgro. They are here to make money, not to serve Singaporeans.

I heard a saying : Singapore is a selective democracy with concentrated capitalism.

However, despite knowing that our voices will fall on deaf ears, if there’s any ears out there at all, we should still con’t to voice our views and discontent. Never go down without a fight.

Oh, better don’t tell this to the minister least the pathetic and world-class minister will proudly tell you that without the increment, you will have to wait for the fifth train !

There is one obvious primary culprit for the fare hikes in public transport, unlike the case of fish ball noodle price hike. Moreover, it is still possible to find fish ball noodle stalls charging less than $2.50. Given that one of you had mentioned Singaporeans are less vocal on fishball noodle price hike, has it not occurred to you that this shows that the service quality provided by the fish ball noodle stalls leave their customers more satisfied than commuters taking public transport in Singapore?

Not only do I face deteriorating services – I have to wait until the 3rd train before I can squeeze myself on-board and it’s only 7am in the morning…

And to add insult to injury, I have to pay more come Oct 1?

I’m like at most 10 metres away (the bus stop across the street) from the point of origin of my travel no?

I’m sure being a potential graduate of UofC, good for you, You’ll see things clearer by Sem 2.. Any government is somewhat an Enterprise of sorts. I’m sure you’ve read a lot on Sovereign Wealth Funds of late. Whether or not there are differentiating variables, factors or motives behind the increases, the end-game is still similar – PROFIT…or PROFIT-EERING. Can we honestly say that an increase of 50 cents to $1.00 per bowl of Fishball Noodles is justifiable when it gives a sudden pay rise of $1500-$3000 per month to hawkers’ pockets? Check out the price of noodles, fishballs and all the hums and you get the answer. I mean wholesale price.
As for 6.5m it’s an obvious rhetoric. Walk around HK. the answer is there.

Further, I find the bus operator, especially the SBS Transit, it needs to improve its frequency of bus fleet deployment and scheduling in order to cut the problem of bus bunching. I have always waited for bus 52 for about 30 minutes in the morning everyday, between 7.21 to 8.10am at the bus-stop opposite Sunset Way,

Can you tell clearly between :

1) Real free market competition (e.g fishball knoodles or mee siam or raw hums) in the private sector with a lot of market players to provide equivalent or substitution with maybe limited space as the most constraining variable. Currently, I do not see any GLCs providing fishball noodles and mee siam and yes hums also.

2) Essential PUBLIC service (monopoly ?) operating in a pseudo free market environment with ERP, COE, road tax, etc to inflate (artificially ?) the cost of alternative private travelling with limited space (for both roads & parking space) again as the worst constraining variable.

So do you think it is fun to increase your population to 6.5m.

Reading all the comments here, I begin to wonder whether the 4 cents fare hike is indeed “much ado about nothing” – literally. I’ve not read complaints on blatant increase in the price of food at food courts or hawker centres. Why? A bowl of fishball knoodles used to cost $2 and now jumps to $2.50. Do you think it is justifiable? I may sound out of sync here but what is a 50 cents increase compared to 4 cents?
On emigration, China seems to be the best alternative to consider. You can rent an apartment for around S$120 p.m (2 bedrooms, one hall and a kitchen), very,very cheap fish, vegetables and other necessities. cab fare starts from around S$1.40 – too cheap! I wonder why no one talks about this alternative. The answer is quite obvious perhaps When China cut fuel subsidy why no big hooha? The answer again seems obvious.
Don’t get me wong. I’m not saying that the 4 cents fare hike come October 1st is fully justifiable (same for food price hike which is worst) but let’s be frank about one thing: There is some certainty here. There is PTC to oversee and keep public fare hike in check. Why isn’t there say a “FCC (Food Control Council)” in place to keep food prices in check as Singaporeans eat out often? I wonder.
I have an aged sick mother-in-law who is 83 years of age and has to travel by cab to Polyclinic which costs me almost $5 per trip per appointment in any one month.
My point is: (to give an analogy) one cannot expect to have fine dining at say Jade Crystal Restaurant and expect the bill to be below S$10.
The bottom line is really $$$ can get you somewhere (as one reader implied here). Get the point?
Cheers!

Reading all agruments carefully , there is no real reason to be found for the fare hike. Only conclusion is that it is a political and strategic move – the new urgent way of dealing with the people – pre-emption and then a little one off candy help to remind the people.

Sadder in that it has to come th this way – unclear to the policy makers is that by doing so – the great divide is becoming wider.

Thank you TOC – you guys are young and energetic – you deserve the best Singapore can give you. Do not be discouraged by what the PAP MP said as “underwhelmed” ; TOC – your collated suggestions whether workable or not are worth their weight in gold in your efforts in the present circumstances.

Even your own son (mind you, a wonderful side venture of yourself and NUS) also thinks the grass is greener there. Never mind, your son can always can come back here. With a M.Sc (stats), he is definitely way in front of a lot of people.

Hey I have never thought that grass is always greener over the other side, but I do think that a lot of things have to improve here. Too many glaring nuisances unless you choose not to see it ?

As for your ang moh uncle, Singapore is always drooling very badly for people like them. No secret, it is all pasted in the air you breathe. Perhaps, he will begin to fall in love with our health care system after a few years here.

Hey, I also salute people like “Korek2korek” or any participant in so far as he can bring a different perspective to the table which can enrich my outlook, whether it is positive or negative.

Whoever can walk the talk prevails by setting good examples (not practising double standards). Not talk the talk with plenty of eloquent counter points.

Whoever put this comment, I hope your blessings are indeed sincere. Thanks for that! I do not write comments here (or anywhere for that matter wiithout factual backup). My son has an M.Sc (stats) from NUS and has gone over to to NZ thinking that “the grass is greener on the other side.” My uncle is a British (ang moh) UK citizen who condemns their own NHC (national health care) system.

In sum, I think the “4 cents” goes far beyond nationhood! I salute people like “Korek2korek” who speaks rationally and put forth real concerns.

In essence, let’s all begin to see the real BIG picture. Cheers!

Ya, they do it REGULARLY but a slice at a time.
It wont hurt as much. People forget the pain over time and once used to it, its like drinking water or coffee.

Pay And Pay today till forever more.

The people have spoken.

Status quo.

More good years!
Swiss standard!
Number 1!
Welcome FTs!
Show your gratitude to FTs.
They can cover your jobs.