I don't think the point is about paying, people are stranded at
train stations and it is important that the crowds are dispersed as
soon as possible safely. Both are public transport operators and
they share the some responsiblity to a certain extent to help out.
This is evident in the current approach in case of breakdowns.
However having said that, if i was SBST, i would also have
declined to help even if the company wanted to. Firstly, there's
limited staff and of those available, none of the BC have been
trained the route to travel beforehand, and neither have they been
told their responsibilities. It's of the company's best interest to
not do something risky like this but instead to strengthen the
remaining routes that ply near MRT stations.
The issue lies very much with how the public transport
regulators have failed to mandate any contingency plans to cope
with such situations until the Dec breakdowns. LTA and PTC very
well knows SMRT does not have enough buses to cope with any large
scale breakdowns, yet they did not bother with the issue and
assumed the worst wont happen.
LTA and PTC are the only govening bodies that can ensure both
companies are cross-trained to cope with such situations, and also
to ensure communication between both companies in times of need.
They have however failed to do so in the dec breakdowns. Of course,
if sbst have to be roped in to help, it is natural that they are
compensated for use of their buses, but their bc and staff must be
trained first.