The PTC Fare hike that was recently debated in parliment
produced little ans and even more questions.
It was indeed heartening to see over 20 MPs taking the stand to
voice their concerns and that of the public over the poor timing of
the implementation of the rise in transport costs for SMRT and SBS
transit.
However it was equally disheartening to see zero progress made
other than the fact that care and discretion will be taken into
account in such future cases. (how strange since the only result
was that some form of assurance was made by Yeo Cheow Tong to
consider the sensitive aspects of such a dramatic fee hike in the
future)
MPs like Ong Ah Heng (who concidentially chairs the labour union)
actually lambasted several MPs for taking the PTC and transport
portfolio to task for upping transport hikes. No attempt was made
on his part to be more diplomatic and point out significant issues
on the part of the SMRT and SBS such as employee wages and
improvements (changes are more like it) justified (in a manner of
speaking) the increases. Instead he spoke as if he was simply
trying to sweep away all the "pestering" criticisms concerning the
hike.
In truth, such obvious disregard of important issues by MPs can
only bode poorly for future generations of leaders. Such MPs
present themselves as uncaring and seemingly uninterested in the
views of the general public. It's as if they sit back smugly secure
in the knowledge that they have already been re-elected, hence
these affairs are of limited interest to them.
If such attitude proliferates, one wonders about the kind political
backlash that would be inflicted by a disgrunted community seeking
merely the basic needs - to be heard and understood.
Incidently, it would interesting to note that despite all the
appeals to postpone the hike or at least freeze it temporarily, no
compromise was reached. In fact, the MPs concerned (we all know who
they are) vehemently defended the decision of the PTC and
subsequently supported it by justifying its actions. I especially
like the one that states:
".....transport hike was implemented.....because we felt a small
increase now was better than a larger rise after the recession...."
or something like that.
As one disappointed consumer pointed out, no attempt was made to
survey the public or convey this question: whether the ppl would
have prefered a small increase now or a larger one later. No effort
was made to pump in a "small" amt of money into commissioning an
inquest from the public to prevent a "large" outcry on the final
decision made.
It's therefore easier in the eyes of the public to have a rather
mercenery outlook of the transport companies concerned...but hey
like they all say........
Business is business......