http://www.asiaone.com/News/The+New+Paper/Story/A1Story20090612-148108.html
Fri, Jun 12, 2009
The New Paper
Passenger files police report after argument with bus driver over 50 cents
[Photo: Mr Poh claims that he was 'slapped' by a bus driver last week when he was on board a bus.]
By Benson Ang
HIP-HOP fans might go to great lengths for feuding rapper 50 cent.
But this Singapore bus passenger is making a song and dance over just 50 cents and a consequent dispute with a bus driver.
He first used a vulgarity on the driver because he could not get a 50-cent rebate, then he made a police report over an alleged slapping incident.
The passenger, Mr Poh Chye Seah, 32, had wanted the 50-cent rebate which is given when passengers switch trains and buses within 45 minutes to continue on their journey.
But Mr Poh, who's self-employed, missed out on the rebate because he had apparently waited for about 45minutes for a bus after alighting from a train.
He told The New Paper that the incident happened on 2 Jun when he was heading home to Bukit Panjang after praying at a temple in Farrer Park.
He does this once a week, usually taking the MRT from Farrer Park to Little India, then the SMRT Bus Service 960 to Bukit Panjang Ring Road.
Mr Poh arrived at Little India station at about 3.50pm, and, according to his police report, started waiting at the bus stop at 4pm.
The first bus arrived after 30 minutes, but he claimed he did not board it because it was packed.
Mr Poh boarded the second bus, which arrived five minutes later.
By the time he scanned his ez-link card on this bus, 45 minutes had lapsed since his previous trip, so he did not receive a rebate.
Mr Poh approached the bus driver, who could not help him with the rebate, and asked him to move along as he was busy.
Mr Poh admitted that he then used a vulgarity on the driver because the latter 'deserved it for his rudeness'.
It is not known if the driver was indeed rude.
Mr Poh then took out his phone to record the driver's name and bus licence plate number.
The next day, he called SMRT to complain about the incident.
Mr Poh claimed that a customer service officer told him that his complaint would be investigated.
Mr Poh alleged that the driver had flipped out his left hand, and the back of the hand made contact with Mr Poh's face.
Mr Poh subsequently alighted along Bukit Panjang Road and made a report at the Bukit Panjang South Neighbourhood Police Post.
He claimed the bus was full and there were no empty seats. However, he did not provide a witness to the incident.
He writes to The New Paper
Mr Poh e-mailed The New Paper after reading a report on 6 Jun about an elderly woman who was punched by a man on board a bus.
Mr Poh also wanted to know why the first bus was late during the off-peak period. The delay, he claimed, caused him to lose his rebate.
He wants a written apology from the driver and a refund of his rebate.
An SMRT spokesman said the delay in Bus Service 960 on 2 Jun was caused by the breakdown of an earlier bus at about 3.30pm, before it left Marina Centre Terminal.
As a result, Mr Poh had to wait longer for Service 960 to arrive at his bus stop.
In general, bus arrival times are also affected by external conditions such as traffic flow, road accidents, construction works and weather conditions, the spokesman said.
SMRT declined to comment on the alleged incident as it was still under investigation.
If the driver is found to be at fault, SMRT will not hesitate to take the necessary disciplinary action, the spokesman said.
This article was first published in The New Paper
Fri, Jun 12, 2009
The New Paper
Passenger files police report after argument with bus driver over 50 cents
[Photo: Mr Poh claims that he was 'slapped' by a bus driver last week when he was on board a bus.]
By Benson Ang
HIP-HOP fans might go to great lengths for feuding rapper 50 cent.
But this Singapore bus passenger is making a song and dance over just 50 cents and a consequent dispute with a bus driver.
He first used a vulgarity on the driver because he could not get a 50-cent rebate, then he made a police report over an alleged slapping incident.
The passenger, Mr Poh Chye Seah, 32, had wanted the 50-cent rebate which is given when passengers switch trains and buses within 45 minutes to continue on their journey.
But Mr Poh, who's self-employed, missed out on the rebate because he had apparently waited for about 45minutes for a bus after alighting from a train.
He told The New Paper that the incident happened on 2 Jun when he was heading home to Bukit Panjang after praying at a temple in Farrer Park.
He does this once a week, usually taking the MRT from Farrer Park to Little India, then the SMRT Bus Service 960 to Bukit Panjang Ring Road.
Mr Poh arrived at Little India station at about 3.50pm, and, according to his police report, started waiting at the bus stop at 4pm.
The first bus arrived after 30 minutes, but he claimed he did not board it because it was packed.
Mr Poh boarded the second bus, which arrived five minutes later.
By the time he scanned his ez-link card on this bus, 45 minutes had lapsed since his previous trip, so he did not receive a rebate.
Mr Poh approached the bus driver, who could not help him with the rebate, and asked him to move along as he was busy.
Mr Poh admitted that he then used a vulgarity on the driver because the latter 'deserved it for his rudeness'.
It is not known if the driver was indeed rude.
Mr Poh then took out his phone to record the driver's name and bus licence plate number.
The next day, he called SMRT to complain about the incident.
Mr Poh claimed that a customer service officer told him that his complaint would be investigated.
Mr Poh alleged that the driver had flipped out his left hand, and the back of the hand made contact with Mr Poh's face.
Mr Poh subsequently alighted along Bukit Panjang Road and made a report at the Bukit Panjang South Neighbourhood Police Post.
He claimed the bus was full and there were no empty seats. However, he did not provide a witness to the incident.
He writes to The New Paper
Mr Poh e-mailed The New Paper after reading a report on 6 Jun about an elderly woman who was punched by a man on board a bus.
Mr Poh also wanted to know why the first bus was late during the off-peak period. The delay, he claimed, caused him to lose his rebate.
He wants a written apology from the driver and a refund of his rebate.
An SMRT spokesman said the delay in Bus Service 960 on 2 Jun was caused by the breakdown of an earlier bus at about 3.30pm, before it left Marina Centre Terminal.
As a result, Mr Poh had to wait longer for Service 960 to arrive at his bus stop.
In general, bus arrival times are also affected by external conditions such as traffic flow, road accidents, construction works and weather conditions, the spokesman said.
SMRT declined to comment on the alleged incident as it was still under investigation.
If the driver is found to be at fault, SMRT will not hesitate to take the necessary disciplinary action, the spokesman said.
This article was first published in The New Paper
