Anti-Terror Message on NEL Stations' Overhead Displays

chaser77 SG

I usually travel on the EW line but recently took the NE line from Outram Park to Chinatown to walk the CNY market. While waiting for the train to arrive, I watched a video clip depicting a youngster leaving a bag in a train and later detonating it via a cellphone and also scenes of various train bombing incidents from other countries(India etc.). I asked my friends who are taking NE line frequently and they said that this video has been ongoing for quite some time.

I personally found these videos disturbing to a certain extent as a local and I wonder how it feels like to be a tourist viewing all these videos of violent and so-called supposed to be 'educational' to the public. I understand that the public must be educated to be vigilant in case of terrorist acts but I believe that these can be done at a more confined level of national education in schools or even national service. With the TV already showing homemade counter-terrorism shows on channel 5(i don't what is the name of the show). I think that the government/SMRT/SBS should downplay on its counter-terrorism education on its public transport system. Theres a limit and everything after that turns to irritation, like the PA system telling people to call 999 if they find suspicious packages in 4 languages. Rolling Eyes

As not only Singporeans take public transport, tourists also take them. If i am a tourist visiting Singapore and taking the NEL, I will think that Singapore is under a siege or in a high military alert state. As a tourist(or even commuter), I rather prefer to look at information on how to get to places and maybe some advertisements on places of interest/shopping which are near MRT stations.

Sorry for the long post. Just my 2 cents of thoughts.

ndmmxiaomayi SG

All stations are affected if I’m not wrong. All these commercials are alternated.

chaser77 SG

This is not related to the original thread.

I find it amusing when I see the "Life is Precious, Act Responsibly" signboard on the train tracks of overhead stations(Jurong East, Clementi etc.). I mean if people really want to suicide by jumping onto the train tracks, will they reconsider after reading that signboard or even take a second to consider other methods of suicide? Rolling Eyes

My point is why do things for the sake of doing even though it does not remedy the situation.

^tamago^ SG

cos of 2 words: "cover backside". Laughing

elindra SG

Actually I find that ad really dumb Laughing and that it's very funny

I mean seriously which terrorist in his/her right mind will leave a bomb in a bag in such an empty train and in such an obvious manner

Ito_^ SG

lower production cost. Laughing

Volvo Olympian SG

oredi when i see the video's i will LOL Laughing

Boy Stratus SG

LOL ya loh. Really cmi one. Laughing

littlearea SG

The title of Channel 5 show is “Without Warning”.

SMRT 32373238 SG

observe the video error!!! terrorist gets onto train at CGA stn, bound for XPO stn, but detonates bomb in a train heading towards CGA stn!!! Laughing

ditzy SG

I believe any tourists who visit singapore, would have already been prep on what to expect in modern day singapore. Laughing

LifeIsWonderful SG

if you ask me, i rather see these measures in place than having a real disaster happen, i don't think singapore is ready for such a disaster. these measures serve not really to us, it's also for the people who wanna do "something", think twice about it. some have been caught before they could act, with these measures in place, i think it might not remove 100% certainty of catching terrorists, but it would increase the percentage, which i think is worth it.

chaser77 SG

I agree on the part that some form of measures must be done to educate the general public on counter-terrorism but there must be a limit to it. I personally don't want to see the same video or some new train bombing video on the overhead display 1 year down the road from now or keep hearing the "If you find suspicious package, please call 999" on the PA system in 4 languages.

I find the removal of dustbins in MRT stations especially inconvenient not only to commuters but also to cleaners that has to clean after errant litterbugs because there is no dustbins. You can remove one possibility but you can't possibily remove the remaining possibility of other 1001 ways of terrorism.

When there is a train disaster(touchwood), to know how to react and the ability and willingness to react is another. I agree with you that most Singaporeans including me are not ready for disasters such as train bombing but there is no 100% way to curb this form of terrorism except maybe to enforce security checks to check bags of every commuter BEFORE boarding the train which is not practical as you can imagine the delay that will be caused during morning/evening rush hours and weekends in MRT stations like City hall and Orchard. Even the recent installation of CCTV on trains will only aid in identifying the bomb suspect AFTER the bombing itself and not preventing it to happen.

So my point is implementing half-hatched measures that will not solve the root of the problem and in turn translate into higher costs for commuters is just as good as doing nothing about it. I find all these measures are only cosmetic and doing for the sake of doing something.

The question in this case is: Is doing something better than doing nothing at all?

brotherchen1982 SG

24-hour eye on the entire MRT system?

^tamago^ SG

loop at tanah merah. loop. loop. Laughing

the Bear SG

hmmm.. CCTV??

so.. i want to ask this question.. how the hell does CCTV help prevent the suicide bomber?

charlize SG

Well, they can play back the tape and hope time reverses too.

Maybe.

Just maybe. Laughing

the Bear SG

so.. their defense is like Temasek's investing philosophy.. anyhow whack and pray really hard it works Laughing

ditzy SG

They can archive the footage for future purposes. Laughing

LifeIsWonderful SG

aiyah!!!!!!!! take taxi lah!!!