I refer to the article "SMRT Bishan depot breached, train vandalized"
( http://sg.news.yahoo.com/blogs/singaporescene/vandals-breach-bishan-depot-smrt-train-vandalised-155409194.html )
On Wednesday morning, a northbound MRT train was found vandalized; graffiti was discovered on the train, and it was immediately pulled out of service. Checks later revealed a breach in the fence of the depot where the train was parked. This is the second time in two years which a train has been vandalized.
However, I do not understand the aims of these people vandalizing MRT trains. What do they do this for? Are they doing this out of mischief, because they thought it was fun, or are they just trying to impress their friends that they are capable of such things?
To all vandals: are you sure you want to do this? The punishment enforced by the Singapore Government is large: a jail term of 3 years, or a fine of $2000 and between 3 and 8 strokes of the cane. Let me just tell you: it hurts. There are many criminals, after getting caught for various crimes, who say: "Give me as long in jail as you want, just spare me the cane." They know it is extremely painful, such that it is even to the extent of torture. So, would you risk getting into such pain, just for the sake of impressing your friends, or just for a moment of fun?
Of course, I feel that SMRT should step up its security, and prevent such a thing from happening again. Such things causes inconvenience to passengers going to and fro about Singapore. Many of us depend on MRT trains to travel about. Every MRT train can hold about 1000 people at the maximum, thus every train is important.
Generally, I urge all vandals: think of the consequences before you act. I also urge SMRT: prevention is better than cure.
Dear Wen Hong,
ReplyDeleteI find your post rather refreshing. People nowadays keep using every excuse to blame practically every government agency in Singapore, and that includes SMRT. Most people now keep blaming the SMRT for having such an incident repeated, and I find it quite interesting that you are instead focusing more on the root of the problem - the vandals.
I also wonder what the vandals hope to achieve. After all, it is not like anyone can appreciate their art - trains discovered to be vandalised are put out of service. Furthermore, it is a lose-lose situation - the vandal is almost certainly going to be found out and severely punished, as this is not the first time such a crime has happened and the court will not be as forgiving, and SMRT has to spend the extra money in order to remove this graffiti. I am also rather upset with SMRT. I had expected them to have increased their security after last year's vandalism, which showed that terrorists could easily plant a bomb in an MRT. It is saddening to know that after a year, the situation has not improved.
Regards,
Chong Kai En, 2i106