Pregnant Woman Denied MRT Seat

• If i ask how many of us can relate to the above posted pictures? I'm sure out of 10 person, probably all would have said yes. Well i certainly can, because i've been in such situation and have seen such situation umpteen times.

• It dawn upon me that Singapore has been actively promoting social graciousness and one of the many promotion they have is the second picture, "Be considerate. Give up this seat to a passenger with special needs." I can totally comprehend their kind motivation, but i don't think that can solve the problem for those people with special needs.

• My thoughts are such:

1. I'm dead sure, people are still obligated to give up their seats for people in need. Yes there are still kind souls who gave it up because they purely wanted to.
2. Those who are not bound by obligation or kindness, would choose to cast a sleeping spell on themselves & miraculously wake up when they reach their desired stops or act like they are running a chain restaurant by acting all busy with calls and sms. (Familiar isn't, i'm actually laughing at these sight as i blog.)
3. Let's say all people on board the cabin are pure & kind hearted souls, but sometimes due to certain happenings or a hard days work, they too, yearn to have a seat on their commute home to recoup their energy for a reunion with their family.
4. What if demand exceeds supply? More needy commuters than those allocated priority seats? Yes those kind souls would gladly give up their seats for them at the expense of their comfort, which makes me totally respect them. But does this solve the problem? Because sometimes i see, even needy people are obligated to take up seats that are offered to them because they themselves don't wanna be look on as needy. Ironic respond huh? In hokkien is called feeling "Pai Seh".
5. To save myself the irony, i resolve not to take up seats during my MRT commute unless the cabin is really 50% empty. Therefore i'll prefer to read, listen to music, or make my calls/sms while standing, since it's only a 10min to 30min commute at the most. I've met people like that too.

Anyway, since those in need feels pai seh to take up seats offered to them, and those not in need feels pai seh not to offer seats to them, i humbly came up with a reformative idea.

To solve problems for everyone(pple with/without special needs & SMRT), i would suggest SMRT assigned 1 to 2 cabins with all the seats solely assigned as priority/compulsory seats for those with special needs. The many pros:

1. More people would be able to commute in comfort and less worry.
2. Those who has special needs would be educated to proceed to the cabin solely for priority or compulsory seats. (Guaranteed Seatings.)
3. They wouldn't need to compete for seats or look for a platform with lesser crowd to board the train, cause they know there's a cabin specially assigned to assist them.
4. Special needs cabins can be assigned next to escalator & lift to lessen the walking distance of those people who have mobility problems, pregnant ladies, elderly people & even parents with prams or having to take care of several children.
5. People would look up to SMRT's effort on making themselves an even more gracious organisation with thoughts of improvising their current service standards by going the extra miles for commuters.
6. By doing these, they not only make a good name for themselves in Singapore, but it's also a chance to improve their service standards with thoughts of achieving accreditation of global service standard award. Which in my opinion would certainly gain great foothold in the world, as a transportation specialise.

Although much had been said, whether or not it would come to past, it's still up to the relevant offices to decide.

It's just my two cents' worth. Cheers. ^_^