A Singaporean by the name of Ginny Chia has written to the
Straits Times Forum today complaining about the inability of PRC
bus drivers to communicate in English.
She recounted a personal unpleasant experience with a PRC bus
driver:
“I write with great concern over my recent unpleasant
incidents with SMRT’s bus drivers. On one occasion, I inquired if
the bus – service 970 – would take me to Jalan Jurong Kechil, to
which the bus driver, a Chinese national, simply shot me a blank
stare. When I asked in Mandarin, he finally gave me a
nod.”
This is not the first time such a complaint is being aired
publicly. The Straits Times Forum has received a deluge of letters
from its readers over the last few months about the “attitude” of
PRC bus drivers.
Ms Chia is incensed that bus drivers who are unable to speak
English are offered jobs in Singapore:
“It is the basic role of bus drivers to not only drive along
the correct routes but also be able to communicate with passengers.
And is English not our working language? Are the information boards
at bus stops not printed in English?”
Despite some unhappiness from the commuters, Singapore bus
companies continue to mass recruit bus drivers from China, the
latest being a recruitment exercise launched in Chengdu two months
ago.
The news was reported in a Sichuan newspaper, but censored by
the Singapore media. (read article here)
Ms Chia felt that the PRC bus drivers are employed due lower
labor costs:
“It may be cheaper to hire foreign labour; doing so may
increase profits and make up for the decreasing number of
Singaporeans who are willing to take on these jobs. However, it
should in no way alienate the local community, many of whom do not
understand Mandarin.”
However, the reality is that they are offered comparable
salaries to Singaporeans who will be otherwise keen to take up
the job.
According to the same Sichuan report, the PRC bus
drivers are offered annual salaries ranging between RMB90,000
and RMB120,000 (approximately $1,562 – $2,082 monthly taking S$1 =
RMB4.80) On top of the attractive wages, they are also given free
lodging, transport allowances and medical insurance coverage.
Not only are they offered attractive terms to work in Singapore,
they are also eligible to apply for Singapore PR and eventually
citizenship in Singapore which must be the only developed country
in the world to give citizenships to bus drivers.
With the PAP’s mass “integration” exercise underway, Ms Chia
should consider herself fortunate that she understands basic
Mandarin to communicate with the newcomers.
TEMASEK REVIEW
What was her surname again? Chia? Isnt that a chinese surname? I
can understand if she is a malay or a neh. But a chinese in race
should try to use Chinese / Mandrain to talk (Unless u talk 2 a
malay, tamil, ang mohs etc.....)
