A shocking incident at Singapore's Outram Park MRT station has raised public concern over hygiene and the response protocols of transit operators. Netizen Stella Kee took to the Complaint Singapore Facebook group to share a video of a man allegedly urinating on the handrail of an escalator near Exit 3 of the station.
According to Kee, the incident occurred at approximately 10:03 PM on January 9. "Sharing this on behalf of a friend," she wrote. "We witnessed a disturbing incident where a man, believed to be of Chinese nationality, approached the escalator and began urinating on the handrail. He stood there for an extended period of time."
Kee explained that one of her companions immediately reported the incident to the nearest passenger service counter located near Exits 7 and 8. However, they were informed by Singapore Mass Rapid Transit (SMRT) staff that Exit 3 was under the jurisdiction of SBS Transit, not SMRT.
This separation of responsibilities caused delays in addressing the issue. "While one of us spoke to the authorities, the other kept an eye on the man. When he noticed he was being watched, he quickly left the area via an elevator," Kee shared.
Upon inspecting the escalator, they found that the entire handrail was contaminated by urine, posing significant hygiene risks to unsuspecting commuters.
Kee expressed frustration over the lack of immediate intervention, citing the divided management of MRT lines by different operators as a potential risk. "It is concerning that incidents reported in one area may not be addressed promptly because of the separation of responsibilities. This allowed the offender to leave without any immediate action being taken," she said.
She also highlighted the broader implications for public safety and hygiene, urging both SMRT and SBS Transit to review their procedures. "This separation delays reporting and action, which could result in commuters unknowingly touching contaminated surfaces," she added.
The incident has sparked discussions online about the need for better coordination between transit operators to ensure a seamless and rapid response to such situations. Kee's post concluded with a plea for SMRT and SBS Transit to improve their protocols to prevent similar incidents in the future and protect public health.
