I refer to the
micro blogging Chinese site “Is it so easy to become a SMRT Bus
Driver”.
http://bbs.tianya.cn/post-no110-13493261-1.shtml
Just as a year has elapsed since
SMRT’s strike episode in November 2012 and evidence of foreigner
overreliance is again brewing.
This time with a further
dimension of concern, coming from a potential driver who flagrantly
boasts how easy it is to become a SMRT Bus Driver.
In his post, the potential driver
congratulates his fellow hired friends who will be ‘bravely
venturing’ to Singapore together. He shamelessly describes how his
driving skills went untested and were spoon-fed answers. He is
surprised but exhilarated to become hired for work by
SMRT.
While he fears that he may fail
certain tests in Singapore and be sent back home, he is still
taking his chances. Perhaps, he is also taking his chances with the
Singapore public’s lives and safety on the road.
He certainly looks forward to see
his other hired friends when they are in Singapore. As if one is
not enough, how many more of such bad eggs are there coming to
Singapore? Again?
As we are aware, SMRT’s buses
have been involved in many high profile accidents in recent years.
Just a few months ago, a bus overturned while traveling at high
speed during a corner, killing an innocent passenger and injuring
more. Last year, SMRT buses have on many occasions slammed into
busstops or vehicles.
Besides accidents, the lack of
safety consciousness in SMRT’s drivers has also been called into
question. It was recently reported that SMRT drivers were
photographed by passengers to be ‘nail-clipping’, ‘closing eyes’
and even ‘dozing-off’ as they drive on the road.
Reckless driving, without any
thought for passenger safety and poor service quality has
repeatedly plagued the company and its workforce over the
years.
While SMRT looks to rebuild the
company’s reputation and make being a bus driver more attractive
through its newly announced Progressive Career Scheme, the company
advances one step but retracts more by what it seems to be poor
corporate practices and evidently, a serious lack of
standards.
Is this what Singaporeans want of
our public transport system?
Can we tolerate such poor
standards and blatant disregard for public safety?
I am appalled.