~by: Ng E-Jay~
Does SMRT value its property over the well-being of its commuters? That is the impression I got when reading media reports about Thursday’s major breakdown along the North-South MRT line.
Firstly, SMRT has stated that emergency ventilation and lighting should have come on when power supply to the train was cut off. The reality however, as reported by the mainstream media, is that commuters were left gasping for air inside the train carriages, which were plunged into darkness. So what has happened here? Why were the emergency systems not in operation? The health and safety of commuters was evidently jeopardized.
The Uninterrupted Power Supply (UPS), according to SMRT, is supposed to last at least 45 minutes, giving rescue teams sufficient time to tow the train to the next available station. However, commuters reported experiencing “unbearable heat”, and there were fainting spells. A couple of commuters had to be sent to hospital after they had been rescued. This situation is inexcusable, as it is clear that something has seriously gone wrong with the emergency systems.
In fact, the situation got so desperate that one brave soul took the initiative to use a fire extinguisher to smash one of the train windows. Mainstream media reports that this good Samaritan is a 31 year old insurance agent, who declined to be named. According to Shin Min Daily, this man’s wife was ill and experiencing breathing difficulties, so he had no choice but to break the windows to let in the air.
After the windows were broken, breathing became slightly easier for the commuters. It is very clear that this man’s actions were fully justified under the circumstances. He did it to save the lives of his wife as well as other commuters, who were suffocating inside the sealed cabin.
So what did SMRT have to say about the incident? Rather than apologizing for the endangerment to the health and safety of passengers, and promising to look into the emergency systems, SMRT instead berated the man for damaging the train, although it said it would not prosecute him for vandalism.
Any thinking, right-minded reader cannot not help but come to the conclusion that SMRT’s first instinct, its first impulse, is to safeguard its property, rather than pay attention to the lives and well-being of the commuters. That is the pathetic and sorry state that Singaporeans are faced with today. It is more important to SMRT that windows remain intact rather than that lives be saved.
Let us ask SMRT, if a terrorist attack had happened and poisonous gas had been released into the train cabin, would they still berate those who smashed the windows at a chance for life? Would they simply “not prosecute”?
The pathetic and silly state of affairs does not end here. According to media reports again, the driver refused to open the train doors to let in some air, as it was against SMRT regulations. The driver refused to compromise and insisted that ventilation was still operational, even though commuters had told him clearly that it was not operational.
The Brain-washed Singaporean
As Singaporeans, we have been brain-washed into thinking that we must follow the rules under all circumstances, even if they fly in the face of common sense.
Rules, however, are meant to apply only in normal circumstances, when things are happening smoothly and the safety of commuters in not in peril.
When the situation is grim and desperate, and backup systems are not in operation, then it is clear that rules no longer apply — the lives and well-being of commuters must take priority over everything else.
In such a situation, there must be clear leadership and instructions from the train operator. That was not forthcoming. Commuters were stuck in the dark tunnel for almost an hour without any directions or instructions over the train intercom.
When commuters are trapped without air and possibly in a dangerous situation, then they must use their initiative and resourcefulness to protect their lives and those of their loved ones. This is common sense. To blindly adhere to the rules and regulations, which are only designed for normal operating circumstances, is ridiculous and mightily stupid.
Have Singaporeans become so brain-washed and have become such a stickler for rules and regulations that they are scared even to colour out of the lines, that they are afraid even to use their common sense in crisis situations?
This is the height of absurdity.
SMRT must not only retract its statement berating the man for destroying the window, it should in fact give the man a medal and commendation for allowing his good sense to prevail.
–
This article first appeared on sgpolitics.net. We thank Ng E-Jay for allowing us to reproduce it here.
HELP keep the voice of TOC alive!
If you like this article, please consider a small donation to help theonlinecitizen.com stay alive. Please note that we can only accept donations from Singaporeans. Thank you for your assistance.Do you have a flair for writing? Volunteer with us. Email us your full name and contact details to theonlinecitizen@gmail.com
Damn
TOC to garland our hero at Speaker Corner at next TOC day.
Everyone is responsible for his or her own safety. We can’t expect SMRT to be looking after us. SMRT is facing its own constraints & pressures, and no further responsibility should be placed on it. Nothing wrong with SMRT valuing its property more.
Here you are grasping for air, there they are telling you dont break their window.
Seriously is a joke to remind us not to break the glass. Tell these to FIREMAN when they do the rescue ?
@ Godwin
“Everyone is responsible for his or her own safety……… and no further responsibility should be placed on it. Nothing wrong with SMRT valuing its property more.”
You are WRONG. The law arm of NEGLIGENCE LAW will hang you alive.
Its priven sg is Not Operationally Ready.
Ord loh!
Is Goh Chee Kong related to Goh Chee Hwee, ex PAP MP and ex NTUC Comfort boss who got $1.4M as bonus?
讓人遺憾的事！不知道發生了甚麼事！公共交通服務的首席執行員！應該是以公眾生命和財產為第一考量！還是最會賺錢為第一考量！當因人為事故發生人命和財產的損失時！應找誰墊背！要怎麼賠償！真是掐把冷汗！怎麼這些人只知挖錢而盲視生命的無價！
萬一發生意外！將是多少家庭的悲劇！
這群是甚麼精英！
難道是髙薪養廉！產生的＂發錢寒＂！太恐怖了！