A Place run by Automatons

Often-times, I have asked myself what is wrong with the LTA (Land Transport Authority). There is the Nicoll Highway incident, where, as the Authority overseeing the project, questions have been raised as to the blame it should take. Then there is LTA's CCTV-on-buses project which caused commuters' to ask, rethorically, who will be paying for the increased costs that transport companies will incur. There are many more such examples if one goes further back. Granted, it is not one of the more naturally popular government agencies, together with the IRAS, but for one reason or another, it seems to go out of its way to irk residents.

The latest must about their directive to Crime Library to take down notices on missing persons it puts up at bus stops. The reason given were twofold: it makes the place unsightly, and it distracts motorists which may lead to accidents. Several people have written to the press, and I am sure more have written or spoken through LTA's hotline, expressing surprise and dismay at this ruling. Many have argued that the job of finding lost ones is far more important than keeping the place spick and span. I can't see any right-thinking and compassionate person disagreeing at all. Letters continue to pour in to the press in spite of LTA's reply to the public's feedback earlier. LTA had replied, as usual, by spouting the official line and would not back down. Somehow, I get the feeling that the LTA is run by a group of automatons that possess no good sense of judgement, no common sense and no heart. It is time for an operation to make these automatons more human-friendly.