I thought the new Contactless ePurse Applications (CEPAS) compliant EZ-Link was almost the same as the previous (SONY?) card. I’m very wrong.

“Please Top Up”

With $1.48 of value inside my card, I didn’t know I would be prompted to top up my card and I wouldn’t be able to take the MRT. Oh well, I was able to get onto a bus few days back. Whatever.

I discovered that the new card requires you to have at least $3 inside your card to get on a MRT. Why? Because the $3 deposit from your previous card was deducted for the new card. That means you’re paying for their upgrades. (Correct me if I’m wrong)

New Features

• You can (now/soon) pay for your meals, shop at 7-Eleven, Buy 4D/Toto/buy soccer bets, pay for government services, improve your own health, etc etc with your new card. Means you got no cash or if you maxed your credit cards, you can still do shopping provided your EZ-Link card got money.
• Can pay ERP with this card? They’re making your life so good. If you forgotten to top up your cash card, you still can go through the gantry without getting fined.  (Am I right?)
• You can now top-up your card at more places. (Ofcourse got charge you small fee at some places!) EZ-Online top up service. Let me review it when I’ve tried.
• Higher e-Purse capacity. So you can now store up to $500 inside your card. This can be your next pre-paid current account!

Got Free Gift Somemore!

Wow. EZ-Link is offering you free 6 months insurance (Provided you’re not older than 81 and you’re at least 18! Click here to register. But after 6 months, we won’t know they’ll do (with ACE Insurance). Maybe bug you to get another policy at a fee?

Have you replaced?

This card so good, you haven’t replaced? From now till 30th September 2009, you can do a 1-for-1 exchange (at selected MRT stations/Post Office Branches/TransitLink Offices). Go replace it during working hours. Use your boss’ time, not your own. It’s ok to return back to office late sometimes. More info here.

Got something to share with me regarding the new EZ-Link card?

The person who made this started by adding more ERPs around central Singapore and alittle towards the northern areas.

Towards 2015, the whole lion city becomes an ERP-wide island.

There are ERP gates located at the doors of MRTs. How possible? Pay standard fare, and ERP fare if the MRT passes through anywhere? Double fare? Fair?

What? Pay ERP just to get home?

The quarrel with MRT drivers to stop before the next ERP. We’ll see.

My Two Pennies Worth

These photos are what I receive in my Inbox and NOT made by me.

But really. This might happen in time to come. You see, price to bid for a Certificate of Entitlement (COE) drops sometimes, inviting more people to get a car. However, ERP prices increases meanwhile. Isn’t it the same?

Above that, public transport fares are increased almost so often. At least fares increases often enough so businesses don’t have to absorb much costs. (REFER TO QUOTE BELOW)

What can we do? Take cab? Drive a car? Take a bus? Ride the MRT?

Singapore Seen can be informative at times, but at times, it can be really irritating. I don’t understand why everytime I visit the website, I would see articles with regards to commuters eating on the MRT.

If you ask me why I say that Singapore Seen shouldn’t exist, I would just fight my stand with 1 simple reason – Singaporeans’ (& Singapore’s) reputation can be spoilt just through the website.

Many of the news articles reported by STOMPers, and approved by editors totally xia suay (embarrass) Singaporeans, especially those featuring ugly commuters, ugly neighbours, ugly etc! Just imagine people from overseas surfs STOMP.com.sg and finds so many articles embarrassing Singaporeans! Seriously, will you still be proud of your country if that happens?

There are goods and bads of having Singapore Seen. It can be a well-liked-by-angry-people portal whereby people can rant and feel happy. Or, it can be a site where people see the bad side of each other.

I’m pretty certain that the website receives traffic mainly (mostly) from Singapore, but there’s a small percentage of visitors from overseas. The small percentage may not be a significant amount right now, but in time to come, through word of mouth, the website will get more international traffic.

I would like to suggest a few changes:

1. The number of complaints (articles) posted everyday
   The number of articles increase time by time and now, more and more articles get approved in a day. The problem is: out of so many articles, most of them are complaint articles. It will only show that Singaporeans are good at complaining.
   I think this has to change. Or actually, it’s good if it remains this way – Uniquely Singapore.
2. Repeated/Similar articles shouldn’t exist.
   Once is enough. Twice is still okay, but 6 articles which targets the same topic – eating on MRT/bus. This shouldn’t be the way to embarrass people. The right way would be to educate people; through public education, then people will learn and less faults like this would be repeated. Agree?
   But again, the point here is, similar articles shouldn’t be featured on main page. (Perhaps like tomorrow.sg)
3. QC should be done
   I know there are editors moderating the articles and editing the photos. The problem here lies with bad photo quality. Example
   I think when we read news, we expect/prefer to see nice photographs along with them.

Repeated articles (reference):

• http://singaporeseen.stomp.com.sg/viewPost4515.aspx
• http://singaporeseen.stomp.com.sg/viewPost4244.aspx
• http://singaporeseen.stomp.com.sg/viewPost4360.aspx
• http://singaporeseen.stomp.com.sg/viewPost4507.aspx
• http://singaporeseen.stomp.com.sg/viewPost3934.aspx
• http://singaporeseen.stomp.com.sg/viewPost3686.aspx

The above mentioned problem – people eating on MRT can be solved as time goes by – through education. More campaigns can be held to teach people the importance of behaving well in public. Let’s hope when “Visit Singapore Year” comes, Singapore would be an eye-opener to travelers – Clean and green country with well-mannered people!

Auntie digging nose on Singapore’s MRT!

Thank god it’s Friday! I will use TGIF more often since Friday is the last day of the week we’re having final year project (fyp) sessions.

I’m very tired. I feel asleep a few times on the MRT, standing. On the bus, too.

When I was queuing up for customs clearance, I really felt very tired. Not that ‘tired’, but just sick of traveling although I only travel twice a week to and fro Malaysia/Singapore. It’s my 13th year doing this. Sigh.

Happy 20th Birthday to James. LOL. Finally 2X.

Hope my ex-wife (Qiuhui) get well soon. Shermian’s having sore eyes and hope she gets well soon too!