The 75% Solution
So what’s new? Oils prices are up, stock prices are making people cry. With Malaysia gradually reducing its oil subsidy and barring foreign registered cars from buying petrol within 50km from its border with Singapore and Thailand, visiting Malaysia for bargains may no longer be such an attractive option, not forgetting the possibility of public protests over there getting violent.
We certainly won’t see any public protests in Singapore. We didn’t even see any official reaction. Duty on fuel will not be reduced. Our Finance Ministry tells us that this is meant to encourage us to use public transport. Fares may get higher, the privileged companies operating our public transport may get richer, but it’s still cheaper than owning a car.
What about the 3/4 tank rule? No change also. Why? Again to discourage the excessive use of cars. But can there be such a thing as excessive use of public transport? Looking at the way our MRT trains squeeze the juice out of passengers during peak hours, the dentist who made that suggestion is probably not mad. Even before all passengers have alighted, they go “doors are closing toot toot toot …” Forget about boarding. That’s what happens when you indirectly “encourage” people to use public transport by directly squeezing them for driving their own cars and taking taxis. You’re just moving the crowds from one sardine can to another sardine can.
I may do a lot of less than normal things, but I do know that normal people who don’t like the 3/4 tank rule before entering JB would be absolutely delighted with a 3/4 train or bus rule on our public transport. Impose a 3/4 bus/train rule on the privileged companies. They can be less privileged for all we common folks care. Any train or bus found more than 3/4 full with passengers will have to award a free ride to their suffering passengers. Not some $10,000 fine payable to LTA. Fare refund to the direct and immediate benefit of passengers. How’s that for encouraging people to use public transport without imposing indecent taxes?
