-ve News Articles on NSFs on Public Transport (Buses/Trains)

• SBS9889U

  6 Mar 13, 23:27

  

  English translation:

   

  Soldiers complain online about their MRT experience:
  Provoked regardless of standing or sitting
  
  4 March 2013, LIANHE WANBAO
  
  By Ma Huaqing ([email protected])
  
  Angry soldiers have poured out their grievances on Facebook on being provoked on MRT trains – some would take photos of them and publish online, regardless of whether they were standing or sitting.
  
  Launched less than a month ago, the “SAF Confessions” Facebook page has already attracted more than 20,000 fans. Many soldiers poured out their grievances anonymously. They claimed that they often met silly individuals who are deliberately provocative. Not only they refused to allow the soldiers to sit down, they also vowed to take photos of the soldiers and publish online.
  
  Among these entries, one soldier complained that there were less than 10 passengers in the train cabin one day, but an auntie harassed him, not allowing him to sit down and spouted nonsense, “Soldiers should be defending our country instead of taking MRT trains. If not, go and take taxis.”
  
  After the entry was posted online, it attracted more than 13,000 “Likes” and more than 650 comments. Netizens sympathized with his horrible experience and criticized the deliberately provocative auntie. Someone filled with righteous indignation even asked the rhetorical question, “Aren’t soldiers’ human beings? Army training is so tough, and sitting down in MRT trains is a sin?!”
  
  CAPTION (top-right): There was a heated discussion after the entry was posted on Facebook. (Picture/Internet screenshot)
  NETIZENS SHARE SIMILAR EXPERIENCES
  
  Many netizens also experienced similar scenarios. Said Lee Xin Li (25, Undergraduate), who often draws army-themed comics: “The MRT is for everyone, so I don’t see why soldiers are not allowed to sit. But for ‘Priority Seats’, it’s another story. Some people lack the respect for privacy, which is the crux of the problem.”
  
  Said Goh Kai Ren (20, Full-time National Serviceman): “Every soldier pays his fare, so of course he has the right to sit. When soldiers give up their seats, it’s out of courtesy. However, he is not obliged to do so. Unfortunately, some members of the public lack the respect for NSFs that they even think it’s a given.”
  
  CAPTION (bottom-left): “STOMP Kempeitai” (Picture/Comic by Lee Xin Li)
  
  SOME SOLDIERS BOOK OUT IN CIVILIAN ATTIRE TO AVOID TROUBLE
  
  To prevent embarrassment and stay away from troubles, some soldiers had no choice but to book out from camps in civilian attire.
  
  According to some NSFs, in order to prevent being provoked or photographed and published online, they usually change into civilian attire before leaving their camps.
  
  Jeremiah Chew, 20, felt that being photographed and published online would make him feel uncomfortable. Though he cannot stop others from doing so, he would pay greater attention to his behaviour in public when in army uniform.
  
  Hewlett Chew, 23, said that perhaps some commuters are unhappy that soldiers’ field packs take up too much space. He hopes that the public will refrain from imposing unreasonable demands on soldiers, considering the tough training they undergo every day.
  
  In some places overseas, soldiers enjoy free subway and bus rides, yet hardly anyone would makes irresponsible remarks on this.
  
  “As soldiers, protecting the country is our duty. I hope our society does not forget our contributions and sacrifices,” says an Army Captain who prefers not to be named.
  
  CAPTION (centre-right): Even if standing, this soldier was photographed by someone and published online. (Picture/STOMP)

   

• zulkifli mahmood

  6 Mar 13, 23:42

  Lols...aiyah...maybe the NSF personnel was sitting and at same time he felt asleep until he nearly fell down from his seat or maybe while asleep his body tilted on one side until his head landed on the aunty's shoulder. I think that would annoyed that aunty until to scorn him for sitting down and falling asleep. I have to admit, sometimes when I see young NSF personnel in uniform sleeping and nearly fall from his seat in the public transport, I feel like going to him and knock his sleepy head and tell him to be like a soldier...not a boy. Word of advise is to change to civilian after shower. Don't ever wear a dirty and smelly uniform in the public transport. It would provoke the public and give SAF a bad image.
• troublemaker2005

  6 Mar 13, 23:47

  next time dont just think. go up and knockhis head. then you cum here report what happen.

• zulkifli mahmood

  6 Mar 13, 23:51

  Originally posted by troublemaker2005:

  next time dont just think. go up and knockhis head. then you cum here report what happen.

  
  Lols...never try that before..however I did that alot to new recruits on their helmet when they were sleeping during field lectures just to wakeup their sleepy mind...lols.
• FireIce

  7 Mar 13, 01:02

  give them a break lah.