Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2017, marked the 30th anniversary of MRT operations in Singapore.

However, there was not much to celebrate.

Ministerial statement

A ministerial statement was delivered in Parliament that day by Transport Minister Khaw Boon Wan to address the MRT tunnel flooding incident that occurred along the North-South Line on Oct. 7, which disrupted train services for about 20 hours until Oct. 8.

Khaw said in Parliament that day: "The SMRT team responsible for maintaining the Bishan storm water sump pit had neglected their duties, falsified records and failed us."

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SMRT CEO email

According to Channel News Asia, SMRT CEO Desmond Kuek, who is the man in one of the hottest seats in Singapore, sent an email to his employees on Wednesday, the next day.

CNA did not republish the contents of the email in full, but here are the parts that can be assembled based on the report.

1. The company was "awash in collective shame because a few of our staff had let us down", the email reportedly said.

2. Referring to the staff members involved, Kuek wrote in the email: "They did not do what they were entrusted to. Their supervisors assumed that nothing would go wrong just because it hadn't gone wrong before. Possibly they thought no one would notice, or care. Maybe it was always deemed to be someone else's problem."

3. Kuek stressed the importance of integrity, ownership and responsibility, and said that without these qualities "things can go horribly wrong. As it did".

4. "We had worked so hard to come this far, but when some of us fail to do what's right or do the right thing, we have nothing more to say but apologise to the nation."

5. The email urged staff to "take the lessons seriously", stating that "we have not lost if we learn".

6. "It is not the mistake that defines a person or an organisation, but how we learn from it, rising to be stronger and better."

7. "This will be a crucial new beginning for SMRT if we commit ourselves to a culture of discipline and excellence in providing safe, reliable, commuter-focused public transport services that Singaporeans can be proud of."

8. Staff were told to make it their duty to step forward to correct or report any wrongdoing, and open communication with fellow workers is encouraged.

9. "Take the responsibility, walk the talk, own the outcome," the email said. "Let's press on. We will get there."

If you are a SMRT employee and have a copy of the email CEO Desmond Kuek sent out, you can forward it to [email protected]. Your identity will be kept anonymous and any identifiers removed.