Were you travelling on the West bound SMRT train 1048 on May 18, 2010? Did you see the graffiti on the train?
It is now reported that a vandal/s broke into the SMRT train deport at Changi Depot a day before and sprayed their work of art on the train.
To make things worst, the graffiti was first sited and “Youtubed” before it was identified by SMRT officials to be the work of vandals. This can be seen that the police report was made on May 19, 2010.
SMRT passengers are always bombarded with an advertisement on the announcement screen for the need to be vigilant and to keep Singapore MRT safe from terrorism.
Ironically, it was SMRT that was not keeping its train and Singaporeans safe from terrorism as seen from this vandal incident.
What if the break in of the depot were made by terrorists instead of graffiti artists? The consequence would also been worst.
Also, the discovery of the graffiti was given noticed after the Youtube video went viral. Is this also against SMRT regulations to have photos or videos taken in SMRT stations without the permission of SMRT?
Kenny Sia would definitely remember his incident with the SMRT authorities when he tried to take photos at City Hall MRT station a few years back.
Wrote Kenny Sia,
SMRTO: What are you doing?
Kenny: Taking photos?
SMRTO: Why are you taking photos here?
Kenny: For artistic reasons.
SMRTO: You cannot take pictures in here!
Kenny: Oh ok. Sorry I didn't realise that.
SMRTO: You have to delete the photos.
Kenny: Err... no, I'm not deleting my photos.
SMRTO: No... you have to delete them or I will have to take action.
Kenny: Well, there's no signage around the place saying I cannot take photos in here, so I'm not deleting them. And it's just two photos anyway.
SMRTO: We don't put it on the signage, but it is against the regulation to take photos in here.
Kenny: Alright then, may I see the regulation?
SMRTO: Do you want me to call the police?
Kenny: No, I'm asking you to show me the regulation saying I can't take photos in here.
SMRTO: We don't have the regulation book in here. Our regulations you can find on our website.
Kenny: Don't you have a hard copy of it?
SMRTO: No, there's so many of them so we cannot list out every single thing in our book.
Kenny: Do you have Internet access?
SMRTO: No, sorry you cannot go into our booth!
Kenny: Then I'm keeping my photos.
SMRTO: If you want to do that, I have no choice but to call the police now.
SMRTO: I still advise you not to take any photos inside the MRT station.
Kenny: Look, you still haven't answered my question. And all I'm asking for is a question. Not a threat, not a challenge, but a question. "May I see the regulation saying I cannot take photos in the MRT station?"
SMRTO: No... that's why I said our regulation is on the website.
Kenny: I don't have Internet access right now. And you have no hardcopy of the regulations, you cannot show me the regulations on screen. In other words, if myself or anyone else want to take photos in the MRT station you can do nothing about it because you cannot show them that it's against the regulations.
SMRTO: That's why I told you. The regulation is like whatever law in the country, there's so many law, you don't expect the government to put up everything you know?
Kenny: In other words, I assume the regulation do not exist and I get to keep whatever photos that I took.
SMRTO: Can you just show it to me? Fine, let's say I find that it's nothing then OK.
Kenny: Alright I'll show you the photos but I refuse to delete it unless you show me the regulation.
SMRT should be taken to task by the authorities for having their security breached which could have resulted in even dire consequence if it was terrorists who broke into the depot and not vandals.
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