Coincidentally, on the similar day itself, Singapore has also suffered from a disruption in it’s Mass Rapit Transit (MRT) service. The North East Line (NEL), operated by public transport company SBS Transit came to a stand still as of lunch time.
Reader Will Hunting sent in a mailbag with a comparison between the railway transit services offered at both sides. Sad but true enough. Excerpt:
One practises transparency all the way to the management level officials, with the operator’s director making a media appearance and clarification interview at the site of disruption, while another remains "not contactable" at press time, yesterday, with no cause of accident mentioned.
One practises immediate response and damage control, while the other merely… (From the Malaysiakini letter, it seems to be a norm for PUTRA LRT commuters to expect glitches during rainy days even?!)
One’s citizens complains about being trapped too long in a train, while the other complains about having to walk a couple of extra hundred meters to find out there are no train service.
One thinks that "everything we have is good enough" while the other thinks that "everything we have should be better".
So, what is the standard operating procedure for emergencies? Why there isn’t any swift evacuation during emergency?
Date: Tue, 25 Jul 2006 16:49:40 +0800
From: Will Hunting
To: skthew@gmail.com
Subject: Singapore MRT Service Disruption
Hi SK,
Talk about coincidence. Did you know that, on the same day when Malaysia’s Light Rail Transit (LRT) service went down, a similar event happened to our neighbour down south?
That’s right, Singapore has also suffered from a disruption in it’s Mass Rapit Transit (MRT) service. The North East Line (NEL), operated by public transport company SBS Transit came to a stand still as of lunch time yesterday.
Endless comparisons have been made between both countries has been going on since 1965. So as to adhere to "tradition", here you go:
(The following comparison is made purely based upon information obtained from multiple news sources, and is subjected to correction)
Malaysia LRT Disruption
Line: Kelana Jaya Line (Formerly known as Putraline)
Train: Bombardier Advanced Rapid Transit
Trains Affected: 3
Passengers in Affected Train: 1000+/-
Stations Closed: ? (To my knowledge, Pasar Seni, Dang Wangi, Kampung Baru and KLCC would be affected)
Service Continuity: ? (Trains from disrupted stations towards PUTRA Terminal as well as the opposite direction towards Kelana Jaya should still be operational)
Cause: ?
Emergency Response Time: Approximately 40 minutes
Damage Control: ?
Major Complaint: "Why does it take so long for a rescue team to kick in?"
Operator Clarification: No
Service Resumed at: 9pm (the same day)
Previous Major Incidents of Disruption: ?
Singapore MRT Disruption
Line: North East Line
Train: Alstom Metropolis Cars
Trains Affected: ?
Passengers in Affected Train: 100
Stations Closed: 4 (Harbourfront, Outram Park, Clarke Quay, Chinatown)
Service Continuity: 11 stations beyond Dhoby Ghaut are still operational
Cause: Traction power line came loose
Emergency Response Time: Approximately 15 minutes
Damage Control: Clarification by SBS Transit (train operator) rail services director, free auxiliary bus and train service, refund for stranded passengers
Major Complaint: "Why are there no service disruption announcements at the stations to the incoming commuters?"
Operator Clarification: Yes
Service Resumed at: Subsequent morning
Previous Incidents of Disruption: Read
Fortunately, no casualty or injury were recorded for both incidents.
I believe nothing beats the assumption that the above comparison reflects the best of each country’s respective culture in governance, due to it’s very recent occurrence.
One practises transparency all the way to the management level officials, with the operator’s director making a media appearance and clarification interview at the site of disruption, while another remains "not contactable" at press time, yesterday, with no cause of accident mentioned.
One practises immediate response and damage control, while the other merely… (From the Malaysiakini letter, it seems to be a norm for PUTRA LRT commuters to expect glitches during rainy days even?!)
One’s citizens complains about being trapped too long in a train, while the other complains about having to walk a couple of extra hundred meters to find out there are no train service.
One thinks that "everything we have is good enough" while the other thinks that "everything we have should be better".
Two nations of the same root with such contrasting differences. Forgive me for not replying your instant messages for the time being. Depression has just set in (again).
Regards,
Will Hunting
Related posts:
Coincidentally, today is the first day of the month of the ghosts of the Lunar calendar?
Aiya, don complain so much lah, we have the cheapest mass railway transit in the world u know? It is also the best in South-East Asia (if we don kira a city-state as a country). You know ppl in Ghana(who has similar merdeka year with us) needs to walk a few miles to obtain food(perhaps that’s also how they train their worldcup team) one or not?? If you want to complain this and that about RapidKL, then you drive your own car lah, our car price is also one of the cheapest in the world lah u know?
gee there are no coincidences in life…everything’s for a reason?
Dear Shafie,
Complaint drives one to push for excellence if one has an attitude to improve.
If we are to compare, we should compare like with like. Our neighbour has a transit system like ours. If they are able to respond as efficiently, why can’t we emulate them?
pablopabla,
I think you are missing the point that Shafie is trying to drive…
Now think again?
jaywalker_82,
I thought that "quote" was by Will Hunting, rather than Shafie.
But I think I may have mistaken. Having read again Shafie’s comments, I believe he is a Singaporean and hence, he was commenting on some S’porean commuters’ complaint that they have to walk a couple of hundred metres extra.
My comments are directed at Malaysians. I am a Malaysian and am deeply embarassed by the incident in KL.
pablopabla,
My bad, I should have mentioned Shafie’s quote in comparison with Will’s
Do you think that as a Singaporean, Shafie would actually "appreciate" that we have the "cheapest", "best", "first" of the region/world?
Regardless of where is he from, Shafie could be just trying to be sacarstic towards the most frequently used statement/phrase at our cabinet ministers’ press conferences… I hope as a you as a Malaysian would have already know what are those statements/phrases, with reference with a citizen’s everday life?
jaywalker_82,
Now I see the sarcasm :)
You are really sharp!