No need to put down those from Third World

I agree with the views expressed by several writers about Professor Tommy Koh's observation (Being First World starts with oneself by Mr Jorg Dietzel and An insult to Third World nations by Mr Goh Ho Wee, both on Oct 8).

There is room for the people of this nation to improve their scores on the behaviour index. 안전놀이터

Still, I think Prof Koh was extremely insensitive and insulting to citizens of Third World countries - generally those from developing and poor countries.

It is simple stereotyping or gross generalisation.

It is probably similar to the growing and expressed intolerance of a few of our retired elitists, who are often detached from the changing realities of everyday living complexities in crowded Singapore.

I have no doubt that the Land Transport Authority and the public transport operators work hard on improving efficiency and reducing costs as much as possible.

But one source of revenue seems to be constantly overlooked: advertising spaces on the walls of MRT stations.

Subway stations nearly everywhere else in the world, including many European cities, Japan and Hong Kong, cover nearly every available inch of wall space in advertising. I would think this generates substantial revenue for operators.

Yet in Singapore, advertising spots are spaced far apart, and many of them are even blank. I am sure MRT operators can look into this and try harder to market the spaces with a rental rate that will spur demand. After that, they can increase the number and coverage of such advertising spaces.

Properly curated, advertising posters add to the vibrancy of the cityscape. The additional revenue would also help to ameliorate the pressure to further increase train fares in the future.

Under this year's Public Transport Voucher Exercise, vouchers will be available to more lower-income households. 인터넷바카라

Those who qualify for the vouchers can apply for them at their local community centre or club (Needy commuters to get more support as transport fares go up, Oct 9).

But why is there a need to apply for these vouchers?

Why not send them directly to households, as was done with the GST Vouchers, instead of getting individual households to jump through hoops to get them?

Wouldn't that be more expedient? The Straits Times senior transport correspondent Christopher Tan stated in his latest commentary: "Currently, more than one-third of those who qualify for transport vouchers do not get them, for whatever reason." (New approaches to funding public transport system might be needed, STOnline, Oct 10).

And it happens in other areas too.

A friend nearly missed the deadline to apply for the Silver Housing Bonus because an HDB officer did not inform her about it while she was switching to a smaller flat.

I wonder how many people failed to take advantage of the bonus because they did not keep abreast of the news.