Early this week, I was stucked underground while in the circle line, at NEX. I thought it was an exciting happening, as I had never got stucked while taking the train.
Well, this evening, I was stucked again, but this time, somewhere underground near Dhoby Ghaut station. Not too sure, what’s the cause for the train stopping along the tracks; but again, it was an exciting happening. I watch the world go round. First, the aircon was giving out warm stale air. Only emergency lights were on. Then, there was announcements that the there was a fault, and everybody were advised not to be alarmed. Many were cool at the announcements; some played their IPAD2; others were fiddling with the smart phones. This was a good opportunity to listen to local Singaporean English. At first, I thought it was kind of haphazard; but very quickly, I realize the staff were doing a fabulous job in keeping the passengers cool and calm.
Suddenly, I heard shouts of "keep left, keep left". Then, I saw from not so far away fire-fighters, first-aid members and other security personnel. It’s interesting to see that we tend to get confused as to where is left, when one is underground.
I did not keep track of the time, but it was long. I learn a few things. I think many Singaporeans, especially ladies, tend to faint easily. Then, they really blur out. Then, they quickly ask for help, and soon came the stretchers. Aiyah, but this wasnt very exciting.
The exciting part for me was when the train operators decided that passengers can go out through the head of the train. I didnt realise how far I was seated from the head of the train. So, I decided to let everybody go out, and I sat through. Oh Gosh, there must be a few hundred people in one train; and it takes a long time for the passengers to walk out calmly and slowly. Imagine, if everybody panicked, and decided to rush out.
I was among the last few; and this was the first time, I walked the tracks. Guess, the SHC walkists would have done a better job. Anyway, I finally walked up to the Dhoby Ghaut station; and was directed to take the circle line to Bishan. And, that’s where the nightmare for me started.
Two train faults and delays in one week really tested my patience. I got called Uncle so many times. Ok, enough from me. Have you experienced train delays or being stucked in our public transport system?
Terence Seah
Hi Terence
OMG you’re one of the passenger. I’ve not experience train breakdown b4 & if I do, think I will feel panicky.
Luckily the train lights were ok right? If the train lights also down alamak cannot imagine apa macam???
Poor thing for old ppl & also those who got to carry small kids while walking on the track..kesian lah.
I saw on the news last nite, commuters complaining of the delay, long queue for taxis and I they showed outside the station the bus stop over crowded aiyo yo. Was thinking last nite, MRT fare increased but the service so terok.
Haha I laughed when I read “I got called Uncle so many times”
Have a nice weekend
Cheers
Hamidah
I was at Novena yesterday afternoon. Took the train to City Hall to head for home in the east. Think the train I was travelling in must be the last few before the power failure.
Thank goodness!
heng arh……suppose to go to Dhoby Ghaut, but change my mind, instead I went for a CPF talk at CPF building. But the talk was so confusing, CPF Life…MSS…bequest or not to bequest…aiyo more confusing than got stuck in the train!
Ah Nee
Hehehe!!
Our founder Terence being stuck in a train! I like your observation of the Singaporean women… “especially ladies, tend to faint easily”. We are becoming nation of softees!
Ah Nee, at least you didn’t faint at the CPF talk!
After listening to 2 hours of CPF talk, the speaker ended her speech with ” To do nothing is a GOOD THING”…Kenneth, waste my time neh…apa macham?
Ah Nee
Hi Ah Nee
That was quick… i only just posted my comment.
Two hours talk is better than two hours stuck!
To do nothing is a good thing: just keep your money in CPF, earn 2.5 percent or 4 percent in Special Account. Draw out $1 million when you’re 65 then go and spend retirement in an Aussie retirement village.
Come back to Singapore when you need medical and dental services (What? You must utilise your benefits as a Singgie) and still get your election year bonus payments and utility rebates for your HDB flat.
Now, that is really a great retirement plan!
I have not been caught in a stalled train yet because I am not a frequent user of trains. But I was once in a situation which until today I do not know what I should have done.
I got up this train, and as usual hope to get a place on the seats reserved for seniors. Usually there will be a young person pretending to sleep or playing with handphone or tablet. But on this occasion, a lady was seated on one of the seats. She looked about my age and had a friendly smile. She spoke to me in Hokkien obviously thinking that I am an illiterate old man and offered me her seat. Yes she also called me ‘Ah Pek’.
I took the seat and she stood in front of me clutching her handbag and not holding on to anything. She was obviously proud to be civic minded, younger and sturdier than me.
The train moved and she fell onto the handsome young guy standing next to her. He was not mused because everyone was looking but he got her upright.
Now, if I stand up and help her to ‘my’ seat, wouldn’t I be rubbing insult into her embarrassment? If I don’t return the seat then I will be a real useless Ah Pek. I could also call her stupid old cow and insist she seat down but that is not nice.
HELP
HAHAHAH!! it was hilarious only because uncle Terrance took it in good spirit. See how easy one can find funny moments in any situation;))
And hahaha!! If i were Tian Soo i would politely refused the seat she offered, but will give her a look like ” Hey auntie, you are more qualified to that seat than i ;))”
Here we go again – another round of excitement, exasperation and embarrassment, thanks to SMRT our most essential transport operator. I believe almost every staff was activated on that fateful day and subsequently almost every senior executive has had spoken. Good job! What next? Besides the apologies and declaration of “we should have done this and that”, what else can be done to pacify the very angry population at large? After all, similar apologies and promises were given many times before. When all is said and done, and after “thorough investigations”, SMRT could possibly be fined millions of dollars. A “detailed report” of what should and should not be done would follow. However, I am sure all the staff from top down will still enjoy their same lucrative pay, if not more. The disgruntled and dissatisfied commuters on the other hand will continue to pay high price for their rides, probably more in future to cover “increased operating costs”. There is something seriously wrong with our “meritocracy and monetary system”. Can any MP or Minister care to comment?
Today, I took another train ride. Guess, the fright of another train fault scared me. Well, I took the whole scenario in good spirit, although right inside me, I was fuming mad.
This morning, I tap my card to gain entry. Guess what, the display said “Card faulty”. So, I went to the control station, and the lady said “Card faulty, because I did not tap OUT that night at Dhoby Ghaut”. I told her I was caught in the train station; and she said “Sir, in this case, we will charge you the minimum. This is 75 cents”.
What got me crazy next was, she said “Sir, you can claim for the trip, if I …….”. I forgot what happened next; but it wasn’t so nice.
Now, I am wondering whether my expectations were too much for the system or it’s just my emotion went out of control.
Ah Nee, good you went for the CPF talk.
Terence Seah
Terence
Sounds like SMRT is quite generous to you. You have spent hours in their train and they let you walk on their multi-million dollar track. All for only 75 cents. The next time if you spend longer time and break their widows to breath their air, it will be much more than $1.50 for sure. Plus GST.
Their staff was also very polite. He/She call you ‘sir’and not uncle. I would love to hear what you said to him/her. I hope you remember that dialects are not allowed when dealing with officials. This is regardless of the fact that some Teochew or Hokkien words can describe them more accurately.
6. Kenneth Tan,
I have attended this CPF retirement talk before, its all crap n rubbish talks. They are just trying to get you all to stay-put with your money inside by talking about the 4% vs bank’s interest rate now. The main intention is make sure that the money is not withdraw out so that they can reinvest them or if everyone take out their $, they will have less to reinvest.
Fat hope you can reach a Million $ to withdraw after 65, unless your CPF contribution is more than few thousand every months or unless you take the money to invest in shares to let it multiple more than what CPF’s interest rate can give you every year until 65 or older. That will be a better choice better than putting it sitting inside the bank or CPF. It is also a form of “Time-Deposit” as long as you don’t sell your shares even the market is down, you do not lose your money, right ?
Hi Danny
I was just tongue-in-cheek with my comments at #6 highlighting more on how some people exploit the systems in both countries. There are many Singaporeans living overseas still keeping their citizenship and enjoying the benefits of their home country and their adopted country.
Anyway, the CPF is a complex maze and affects every working person. I still have a CPF account which still holds my MediSave funds which hopefully can last till the bitter end.
However, on the subject of whether we can keep enough of our CPF contributions to reach that magical $1 million:
I took out my trusty 20-year-old Texas Instrument calculator and punched in some numbers.
With a $1,000 monthly contribution to the Ordinary Account (assuming a salary of $5,000, 23% into OA, and the interest rate of 2.5%), it will take 45 years to reach $1 million!
It can be improved with the Special Account earning 4% and you can transfer up to $60,000 to the SA at the present.
As you said, the CPF funds can also be used to buy shares or unit trusts to increase the return.
The majority also use CPF to pay their house mortgage.
So, theoretically we can save a million dollars in our CPF but we need $1,000 per month at 2.5% over 45 years!
Hi..I hope this will pass the barrier test.
It has nothing to do with politics, notwithstanding the site name. It is a current affair that affects every Singaporeans. Anybody who pays tax ought to know.
http://www.sgpolitics.net/?p=7273