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PTW Week: The private public transport

Just who is benefiting from public transport? – By Isaac Tan.

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TOC thanks Isaac for contributing the following write-up. If you wish to share your views or experiences in using public transport, please email us at [email protected] .

Isaac Tan / Guest Contributor

After spending 5 months in Europe, my return to Singapore has brought me to one very certain conclusion. We really need to rethink the notion that we are in possession of a world class public transport system.

I went overseas under the impression that transport anywhere else would pale in comparison to Singapore, only to find myself severely misguided. Time and time again, cities such as Paris, Berlin and even Amsterdam showed that they were just as capable of providing cheap, efficient and effective public transportation as we are.

I believe that many of our public transportation woes stem from the unsatisfactory privatisation of the industry. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying that public transport companies should be nationalised and returned to the folds of the government. That just sounds a tad communist. What I am saying is that essential services such as public buses and trains should be run with a focus on more than just maximisation of profit. Look where the profit-centric attitude of our public transport companies have gotten us thus far.

The North-East Line’s low ridership made it the subject of various attempts at passing the buck, and a row over who should have to pay for its continued operation. The same motivations presided over the building of MRT stations along said line…and then leaving them unopened, the proverbial white elephants; at least until a gutsy citizen decided to make that fact painfully obvious. Even the decision to reduce the cost of transfers was tempered by the proposed increase in direct routes; a measure undoubtedly taken so public transport companies will see no slump in profits. One can only speculate the reasons behind the introduction of a ridiculous bus service that runs parallel to the MRT line (and takes almost thrice the time for the journey into the City) as opposed to simply increasing train frequency. The answer, however, probably requires no stretch of the imagination.

On a more personal level, I have watched feeder service 173 rerouted any number of times until the trip to Bukit Batok MRT now takes more than 20 minutes when it used to take 10. In addition, trips to the Rail Mall are now affairs between my bicycle and I, the stop having been eliminated from the bus route altogether. Other services such as 963 and 970 are among the most infrequent of buses I have ever seen, with half hour waits not uncommon. In the case of 963, the bus is often packed tooth by jowl by the time it reaches my bus stop – a stop, I might add, that is only mid-way through its route – and simply drives on by, leaving commuters resigned to hunkering down for another 20+ minute wait, taking a cab, or being late for work or school.

Other measures allegedly taken to better convenience commuters seem nothing more than giant publicity stunts. For example, the new IRIS system has been given much publicity for finally allowing commuters to know how long their buses will take to arrive. Yet most of the people I know have had minimal contact with the system; not least from the fact that the bulk of these electronic signboards are situated in the Orchard Road and town area with only a scattered few in the heartland areas. It seems then that IRIS was constructed with the benefit of the tourists and foreigners plying the town area in mind and not us Singaporeans, mere mortals that we are. After all, why do we need an expensive electronic system when in many countries such as France and the Netherlands, a sheet of A4 paper with the bus schedule printed on more than suffices? In fact, it seems to be our much-vaunted IRIS that is proving rather less than satisfactory.

Each time that I’ve come across the system it has never failed to count down the minutes to a bus, display an “Arr” sign…and then reset the countdown with neither hide nor hair of the bus in question appearing. By contrast, in 5 months in Amsterdam I hardly ever saw bus arrivals deviate more than a minute or so from the timings printed on said sheet of A4 paper.

In the face of increasing pressure to use public transport, and now the impending price hikes, these are issues that we the public – the very people this system has allegedly been put in place for – must afford some consideration. Just who is benefiting from public transport? The public? Or the ‘private’ companies that run it?

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Indonesia

Miss Universe cuts ties with Indonesia chapter after harassment allegations

The Miss Universe Organization severs ties with Indonesia franchise due to harassment claims. Malaysia edition canceled.

Women allege body checks before pageant. Investigation launched. Safety prioritized.

Indonesia winner to compete in November finale. Height requirement controversy.

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WASHINGTON, UNITED STATES — The Miss Universe Organization has cut ties with its Indonesia franchise, it announced days after allegations of sexual harassment, and will cancel an upcoming Malaysia edition.

In the complaint, more than a half dozen women said all 30 finalists for Miss Universe Indonesia were unexpectedly asked to strip for a supposed body check for scars and cellulite two days before the pageant’s crowning ceremony in Jakarta.

Their lawyer said Tuesday that five of the women had their pictures taken.

“In light of what we have learned took place at Miss Universe Indonesia, it has become clear that this franchise has not lived up to our brand standards, ethics, or expectations,” the US-based Miss Universe Organization posted Saturday night on social media site X, formerly known as Twitter.

It said that it had “decided to terminate the relationship with its current franchise in Indonesia, PT Capella Swastika Karya, and its National Director, Poppy Capella.”

It thanked the contestants for their bravery in coming forward and added that “providing a safe place for women” was the organization’s priority.

Jakarta police spokesman Trunoyudo Wisnu Andiko said Tuesday that an investigation into the women’s complaint has been launched.

The Indonesia franchise also holds the license for Miss Universe Malaysia, where there will no longer be a competition this year, according to the New York-based parent organizer.

In a lengthy statement posted to Instagram, Indonesia franchise director Capella denied involvement in any body checks.

“I, as the National Director and as the owner of the Miss Universe Indonesia license, was not involved at all and have never known, ordered, requested or allowed anyone who played a role and participated in the process of organizing Miss Universe Indonesia 2023 to commit violence or sexual harassment through body checking,” she wrote.

She added that she is against “any form of violence or sexual harassment.”

The Jakarta competition was held from 29 July to 3 August to choose Indonesia’s representative to the 2023 Miss Universe contest, and was won by Fabienne Nicole Groeneveld.

Miss Universe said it would make arrangements for her to compete in the finale, scheduled for November in El Salvador.

This year’s Indonesia pageant also came under fire for announcing a “significant change in this (year’s) competition guidelines” with the elimination of its minimum height requirement after it had crowned a winner.

In its statement, the Miss Universe Organization said it wanted to “make it extremely clear that there are no measurements such as height, weight, or body dimensions required to join a Miss Universe pageant worldwide.”

— AFP

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Malaysia

A Perodua service centre in Kuantan, Malaysia went viral for its strict dress code, Perodua responds

A dress code for vehicle servicing? A Malaysian car brand’s service centre dress code signage has puzzled netizens, raising queries about the need for attire rules during a routine service.

The manufacturer responded with an official statement after a flurry of comments, seeking to clarify and apologize.

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MALAYSIA: A dress code signage positioned at a service centre belonging to a prominent Malaysian car brand has sparked bewilderment among Malaysian netizens, who question the necessity of adhering to attire guidelines for a simple vehicle servicing.

The signage explicitly delineates clothing items that are deemed unsuitable, including sleeveless tops, short skirts, abbreviated pants, and distressed jeans.

The car manufacturer swiftly found itself flooded with comments from both inquisitive and irked Malaysian netizens. This surge in online activity prompted the company to issue an official statement aimed at clarifying the situation and extending an apology.

In a post that gained significant traction on the social media platform, politician Quek Tai Seong of Pahang State, Malaysia, shared an image to Facebook on Monday (7 Aug).

The image showcased a dress code sign prominently displayed at a Perodua Service Centre in Kuantan. Within the post, Quek posed the question: “Is this dress code applicable nationwide, or is it specific to this branch?”

The signage reads, “All customers dealing with Perodua Service Kuantan 1, Semambu, are requested to dress modestly and appropriately.”

Adding visual clarity to these guidelines, the sign features illustrative graphics that explicitly outline clothing items deemed unacceptable, including sleeveless tops, short skirts, short pants, and ripped jeans.

Delineating the specifics of the dress code, the signage stipulates that male visitors are expected to don shirts accompanied by neckties, opt for long pants, and wear closed shoes.

Conversely, female visitors are advised to don long-sleeved shirts, full-length skirts, and closed-toe footwear.

Perodua’s dress code sparks online uproar

Following the rapid spread of the post, Perodua’s official Facebook page found itself inundated with comments from both intrigued and frustrated Malaysian netizens, all seeking clarifications about the newly surfaced dress code policy.

Amidst the flurry of comments, numerous incensed netizens posed pointed questions such as, “What is the rationale behind the introduction of such regulations by the management? We demand an explanation.”

Another netizen expressed their dissatisfaction, arguing against the necessity of the rule and urging Perodua to take inspiration from the practices of other 4S (Sales, Service, Spare Parts, and Survey) automotive dealerships.

A concerned Facebook user chimed in, advocating for a more lenient stance, asserting that attempting to dictate customers’ clothing choices might not be in the company’s best interest.

Someone also commented in an angry tone, “Oi what is this? Going there for car service, not interview or working, right.”

As the discourse unfolded, it became evident that while some inquiries carried genuine weight, others chose to inject humor into the situation, playfully remarking, “If I wanted to buy a Myvi, I should buy or rent a formal attire first.”

“I sell economy rice at a hawker centre, I have never worn a long sleeve shirt and a tie… I guess I will not buy a Perodua car then.”

“I guess they will not serve those who wear short pants.”

Perodua addresses dress code controversy

As reported by Chinese media outlet Sin Chew Daily News, the manager of Kuantan’s Perodua Service Centre had acknowledged that the images on the dress code signage were misleading.

In response, the manager divulged that discussions had transpired with the head office, leading to the prompt removal of the signage to prevent any further misconceptions.

The manager clarifies, “We do encourage visitors to adhere to the dress etiquette, but we won’t go to the extent of restricting their choice of attire.”

He also revealed that currently, no complaints have been directly received from the public.

However, feedback from certain customers was relayed through Perodua’s agents.

Perodua also released an official statement by chief operating officer JK Rozman Jaffar on Wednesday (9 Aug) regarding the dress code on their official Facebook page.

The statement stated the dress code etiquette is not aligned with their official guidelines and they are currently conducting an official investigation on the matter followed by corrective measures to avoid the same incident from happening.

Perodua also extends its apologies for any inconvenience caused.

 

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