Lan lan right?

Wow wee! "SMRT posts record $136m gain" (ST dated 25th Apr 2007)... I'm so proud of them.

TSK!

Seriously. They increase their prices every so often, increase the tempturatures of their trains (by 1 degree celsius to save just over $1m) and other tactics so that what? The shareholders, directors and the rest of the higher management can profit and buy those nice properties over looking the marina or upgrade their continental cars?

I'm not sure what is the bonus structure of the corporation is but if you can profit by $136m, I think perhaps it's about time to consider giving more concession to the students and elderly. Or even better, their "frequent travelers" i.e. people whose preferred mode of transport to work and leisure is the MRT. After all, they are the core of SMRT's customers, the main contributors of their gain. Cannot be because SMRT saves on their toilet paper, liquid paper, washing powder, air conditioning, that's why they made such a huge profit right?

While SMRT may be a public corporation (thus the importance of making money), it is also a public service provider. It is not an eazy task balancing between keeping your books in the black while working to provide the best service for the public. But so far, I see little, if not zlich effort in providing the best for the public. While the corporation aims for their trains to be punctual, are there staff in the station to assist the elderly in their travel? How many times have I been approached by the elderly, asking which station they should change, what line they should take or even to translate the name of the station simply because they can't read the English signs. What about the less privileged Singaporeans? From the handicapped to the poor to the mentally challenged... Do they only confine their mode of transport to buses? I don't think so. I don't even want to talk about preventing possible suicidal people from jumping off the platform.

It's all about caring and giving back for the community simply because they have a role, the role of a public service provider to play. Unless I've got the entire concept wrong, I'm sticking to my guns.