Straits Times forum letter writer Patrick Tan has, perhaps unwittingly, become the hero all Singaporean plebeian MRT commuters need.

In a pull-no-punches, refreshingly-harshly-worded letter published on The Straits Times forum on Oct. 10, Tan lets rip at beleaguered train operator SMRT and its parent government agency, the Land Transport Authority (LTA).

Why? Because its management and leaders have consistently failed to step up and publicly acknowledge responsibility for the recent major string of faults that have caused sustained delays and disruptions on the North-South and East-West Lines.

These culminated most recently over the weekend, when rainwater flooded tunnels on the North-South Line and caused a disruption between Ang Mo Kio and Newton MRT stations that stretched between Saturday evening and Sunday afternoon.

Among the highlights of Tan's letter include:

• The excuses SMRT and LTA have been giving for recent disruptions have been strange to read — basically everything except acknowledging and taking blame for what's been happening.
• It appears that no one among the leadership of LTA or SMRT have been held accountable for the persistent problems plaguing the compass lines.
• The fact that SMRT has been privatised appears to have become a shield for it from public scrutiny, with its management continuing to be rewarded despite the struggles commuters continue to go through.

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Without further ado, here's Tan's succinctly-penned, highly-to-the-point letter:

"LTA, SMRT should take the blame

It is strange to read the excuses that the Land Transport Authority (LTA) has been giving for the shutdowns of our train system.

First, it was the signalling system's fault. Then, it was the track's fault.

With Saturday's flooding of the tunnel, resulting in a major shutdown of the North-South Line, it was the rain and water-pumping system's fault (NSL services disrupted by water in tunnel; Oct 8).

The LTA and SMRT almost never admit that they could have been at fault. It seems that no one in the managements of LTA and SMRT have been held accountable for all these persistent problems.

When the SMRT management team was first appointed, I was full of hope and support for them.

Surely, if there was anyone who could do the job, a group of army generals with experience in running a most efficient fighting force should be able to do it. But I have been sorely disappointed and disillusioned.

With the privatisation of SMRT, the management is no longer subject to public scrutiny. Operating under a shroud of secrecy, the management continues to be rewarded despite the sufferings of commuters.

Patrick Tan Siong Kuan"

Super fierce.

Top photo: Screenshot from Channel 8 News video