This is my take:
QN: Why we cheat:
ANS: We cheat because it is human nature to do so. Not just
Singaporeans, but everyone else in the world. Why pay more if there
is even a slight chance to pay less? We see this as a warped
concept of savings and every cent saved per trip contributes to
somewhere else. In europe, where they claim to be a developed
community, the public transport system utilises a ticket validity
system. The system is based 100% on honesty. You have to purchase
your own ticket and validate your ticket before you board the
train/bus. Should you be caught in random inspections, you are not
asked to pay the balance but will be fined up to 80 euros! (almost
160 S$)
QN: Is it fair to jail a person for cheating on a bus?
ANS: This is seen as a deterent move to stamp out widespread
cheating, especially among school tertiary students and above who
do not have access to concession passes. Then again, knowing that
our two main bus services in SBS transit and SMRT are govt-linked
leaves no doubt that this is politically motivated as it would have
taken a significant amount of lobbying at legislation level to
succeed. A privately run enterprise would have been stonewalled and
heavily criticised over an inept monitoring system with loops holes
that cheats exploit. (EZ-link comes to mind at this point)
I would have been in favour for a heavier fine and a booking system
that records past cheaters rather than the threat of jail looming
over cheat wannabes. Jail seems harsh and certainly not equitable
to this minor offence.
QN: What is the ultimate decision for such a drastic
amendment?
ANS: Our inadequacies in developing a fullproof ticketing system
(too much bravado and too little substance in the case of EZ link)
, inept management unable to find alternative solutions to a loss
in sales steming from cheats (what are the stats? Or is this a
smoking gun?) and ultimately, this is the new 'prevention is better
than cure' syndrome. By threatening an overkill penalty, the hope
is that cheats in their infant stage will be scared off before they
seriously challenge the system.
