I am pleased to join you this morning to honour 193 frontline public transport service staff for their efforts in providing exemplary courteous service to their customers.

2        Amongst our winners today is Rozli Bin Jantan, a Comfort taxi driver who went out of his way to send an injured man to the hospital. Not only did he waive the fare, he took the trouble to accompany his passenger to the outpatient area and waited with him until he received medical treatment. On another occasion, he stopped to help a lady driver who was stranded in the middle of the night because of a punctured tyre.

3        Another winner worthy of mention is Rahmat Bin Rasol, an SMRT customer service officer, who helped a tourist get his flight to Phuket. The alert officer spotted the elderly Norwegian tourist, who looked unwell, at an MRT station. The tourist had a fall the night before and due to his injury, he missed his flight to Phuket. Upon hearing this, Rahmat accompanied the tourist to the nearest airline office to update his air ticket. Thereafter, Rahmat brought him to the Changi Airport and only left after he was certain that the tourist was confirmed on the next available flight.

4        A third example of excellent service comes from SBS Transit Bus Captain Ang Ming Wan.  He was commended by a pregnant lady passenger for his caring and friendly attitude. He made sure that she was seated before moving off. And when he saw, from his rear view mirror, that she was getting up from her seat to alight, he asked her to take a seat and told her that he would stop at the next bus stop. He even reminded her to be careful and patiently waited for her to alight.

5        Last but not least, I would like to mention Leong Wai Seong, an SMRT bus driver who has a reputation for being courteous and having a cheerful disposition. Passengers who board his bus will know that he makes it a point to greet each and everyone of them. His simple gesture made his passengers so happy that several of them got together and composed a poem of appreciation for him. I have an extract from the poem that I would like to share with all of you. It goes like this:

“Thank you, Mr Leong.

We really do.

We know your job’s a tough one,

With customers like us.

But never once did you stop smiling.

You have made our day.”

6        All of you here will have your own stories. You touch lives, your impact and influence on commuters and the impression you create extend well beyond the brief moments you share with them.  While I have singled out four among 193, I know the rest of the recipients are equally deserving. The fact that all of you practise courtesy as part of your job shows that you are role models for others to emulate, especially so when the slogan for this year’s courtesy campaign is “Practise Courtesy for a Pleasant Journey”.

Practise Courtesy for a Pleasant Journey

7        Every day, millions of commuters take the bus, train or taxis to school, work or social activities.  Each encounter between transport workers and commuters is an opportunity for spreading goodwill.  We should seize every opportunity to make public commuting a pleasant experience. A friendly smile from the service staff can make a commuter’s day. And courtesy is infectious, when you are courteous to others, they will reciprocate in kind.

8        Courtesy also extends to driving habits. As drivers of public transport, you are on the road much of the time. Thus, you have a heavier responsibility in making the roads safe. Courtesy can help enhance road safety. By giving way, signalling before switching lanes, and not tail-gating – you are actually practising courtesy on the road.

9        Of course, commuters also play an important part in ensuring a smooth and pleasant journey.   Often, our travelling public likes to crowd at the entrances – be it on the bus, in the train or at train stations. This hinders smooth boarding and alighting. You can help to remind them to consider the needs of others and in doing so, commuters will make their travelling experience more pleasant for others and for themselves.

10      Hence, as part of our efforts to encourage courtesy in public transport, public transport service staff will be looking out for commuters who perform gracious acts. Courteous commuters will be presented with special tokens. In addition, there will be an exhibition on the courtesy movement within the transport industry, to showcase the efforts of the public transport operators, the authorities and the Singapore Kindness Movement to promote courtesy in the transport industry.

Conclusion

11      On this note, let me urge all of you in the transport industry to do your part to practice courtesy. Like all the award winners here today, build upon your gold standard and keep up that winning smile. We must never stop in our efforts to make Singapore a more gracious society.