Another Singaporean complains about PRC bus driver's English
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Another Singaporean complains about PRC bus drivers
A Singaporean by the name of Ginny Chia has written to the Straits Times Forum today complaining about the inability of PRC bus drivers to communicate in English.
She recounted a personal unpleasant experience with a PRC bus driver:
“I write with great concern over my recent unpleasant incidents with SMRT’s bus drivers. On one occasion, I inquired if the bus – service 970 – would take me to Jalan Jurong Kechil, to which the bus driver, a Chinese national, simply shot me a blank stare. When I asked in Mandarin, he finally gave me a nod.”
This is not the first time such a complaint is being aired publicly. The Straits Times Forum has received a deluge of letters from its readers over the last few months about the “attitude” of PRC bus drivers.
Ms Chia is incensed that bus drivers who are unable to speak English are offered jobs in Singapore:
“It is the basic role of bus drivers to not only drive along the correct routes but also be able to communicate with passengers. And is English not our working language? Are the information boards at bus stops not printed in English?”
Despite some unhappiness from the commuters, Singapore bus companies continue to mass recruit bus drivers from China, the latest being a recruitment exercise launched in Chengdu two months ago.
The news was reported in a Sichuan newspaper, but censored by the Singapore media. (read article here)
Ms Chia felt that the PRC bus drivers are employed due lower labor costs:
“It may be cheaper to hire foreign labour; doing so may increase profits and make up for the decreasing number of Singaporeans who are willing to take on these jobs. However, it should in no way alienate the local community, many of whom do not understand Mandarin.”
However, the reality is that they are offered comparable salaries to Singaporeans who will be otherwise keen to take up the job.
According to the same Sichuan report, the PRC bus drivers are offered annual salaries ranging between RMB90,000 and RMB120,000 (approximately $1,562 – $2,082 monthly taking S$1 = RMB4.80) On top of the attractive wages, they are also given free lodging, transport allowances and medical insurance coverage.
Not only are they offered attractive terms to work in Singapore, they are also eligible to apply for Singapore PR and eventually citizenship in Singapore which must be the only developed country in the world to give citizenships to bus drivers.
With the PAP’s mass “integration” exercise underway, Ms Chia should consider herself fortunate that she understands basic Mandarin to communicate with the newcomers.
TEMASEK REVIEW
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so ok lor, go drive bus lor.
Simple as tat.
no Singkie wants to drive, want better bus freq so where e bus driver come from?
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Originally posted by CheckmateA1:
Another Singaporean complains about PRC bus drivers
A Singaporean by the name of Ginny Chia has written to the Straits Times Forum today complaining about the inability of PRC bus drivers to communicate in English.
She recounted a personal unpleasant experience with a PRC bus driver:
“I write with great concern over my recent unpleasant incidents with SMRT’s bus drivers. On one occasion, I inquired if the bus – service 970 – would take me to Jalan Jurong Kechil, to which the bus driver, a Chinese national, simply shot me a blank stare. When I asked in Mandarin, he finally gave me a nod.”
This is not the first time such a complaint is being aired publicly. The Straits Times Forum has received a deluge of letters from its readers over the last few months about the “attitude” of PRC bus drivers.
Ms Chia is incensed that bus drivers who are unable to speak English are offered jobs in Singapore:
“It is the basic role of bus drivers to not only drive along the correct routes but also be able to communicate with passengers. And is English not our working language? Are the information boards at bus stops not printed in English?”
Despite some unhappiness from the commuters, Singapore bus companies continue to mass recruit bus drivers from China, the latest being a recruitment exercise launched in Chengdu two months ago.
The news was reported in a Sichuan newspaper, but censored by the Singapore media. (read article here)
Ms Chia felt that the PRC bus drivers are employed due lower labor costs:
“It may be cheaper to hire foreign labour; doing so may increase profits and make up for the decreasing number of Singaporeans who are willing to take on these jobs. However, it should in no way alienate the local community, many of whom do not understand Mandarin.”
However, the reality is that they are offered comparable salaries to Singaporeans who will be otherwise keen to take up the job.
According to the same Sichuan report, the PRC bus drivers are offered annual salaries ranging between RMB90,000 and RMB120,000 (approximately $1,562 – $2,082 monthly taking S$1 = RMB4.80) On top of the attractive wages, they are also given free lodging, transport allowances and medical insurance coverage.
Not only are they offered attractive terms to work in Singapore, they are also eligible to apply for Singapore PR and eventually citizenship in Singapore which must be the only developed country in the world to give citizenships to bus drivers.
With the PAP’s mass “integration” exercise underway, Ms Chia should consider herself fortunate that she understands basic Mandarin to communicate with the newcomers.
TEMASEK REVIEW
What was her surname again? Chia? Isnt that a chinese surname? I can understand if she is a malay or a neh. But a chinese in race should try to use Chinese / Mandrain to talk (Unless u talk 2 a malay, tamil, ang mohs etc.....)
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You pay me monthly salary 3K I also want to be bus driver.
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Originally posted by Samuel Lee:
What was her surname again? Chia? Isnt that a chinese surname? I can understand if she is a malay or a neh. But a chinese in race should try to use Chinese / Mandrain to talk (Unless u talk 2 a malay, tamil, ang mohs etc.....)
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I just would like to make a small and quick comment.
To me,
It is rather disingenious that these types of letters would always without fail, mention about how the inability of speaking English would affect the other races, or those who cannot understand Mandarin.
I notice closely, that 9 out of 10 of these letters, are written by Chinese Singaporeans who are actually able to converse in Mandarin, and able to switch, but it is just that they are annoyed and prefer not to.
Actually I do not wish to blame them if they insist on speaking in English as their preferred primary communication method, and I wont blame them if they insist that bus workers and other service providers should be bilingual and should be proficient in English. However, what I do blame them, is that they never want to say it out directly, but pretend and use other roundabout reasons to beautify their arguments and make them look better / look good in the mirror. So they always say "how about other races who cannot speak Mandarin / those who dont understand Mandarin", they always like to take up the mantle to be the spokespersons of some others, instead of directly telling their own personal objections.
I think if they can write letters, they should tell the truth, and stop adding spices and flowers.
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i speak good mandarin. i'm bilingual, i don't complain....
UNTIL i speak to the bus driver/MRT ticket office personnel in mandarin, and they feel insulted cos i seem to suggest they don't speak english!
accomodate them also get complained, don't accomodate them also get complained.
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When in Rome, do what the Romans do.
Just as when we go to China, the locals there also expect us to do the vice-versa.
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Originally posted by Veggie Bao:
I just would like to make a small and quick comment.
To me,
It is rather disingenious that these types of letters would always without fail, mention about how the inability of speaking English would affect the other races, or those who cannot understand Mandarin.
I notice closely, that 9 out of 10 of these letters, are written by Chinese Singaporeans who are actually able to converse in Mandarin, and able to switch, but it is just that they are annoyed and prefer not to.
Actually I do not wish to blame them if they insist on speaking in English as their preferred primary communication method, and I wont blame them if they insist that bus workers and other service providers should be bilingual and should be proficient in English. However, what I do blame them, is that they never want to say it out directly, but pretend and use other roundabout reasons to beautify their arguments and make them look better / look good in the mirror. So they always say "how about other races who cannot speak Mandarin / those who dont understand Mandarin", they always like to take up the mantle to be the spokespersons of some others, instead of directly telling their own personal objections.
I think if they can write letters, they should tell the truth, and stop adding spices and flowers.
If they don't toe the general agenda, do you think the letter will get published in the first place?
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So the morale of the story is vote pap out to save sg
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Complain about recruitment in China or unable to speak English in Singapore?
News censored by the Straits Times, which one of the above.
Temasek Review, what are they reporting.
On the PAP?
Directionless reporting. Crapping out the rojak they ate.
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Originally posted by mancha:
Temasek Review, what are they reporting.
On the PAP?
Directionless reporting. Crapping out the rojak they ate.
At least its not PKR
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from over a millions singaporean (excluding teen/child/baby)
go and try to ask how many ren would wan to drive a bus for u
if the ans is no, try to get well with PRC .... -
Originally posted by Veggie Bao:
I just would like to make a small and quick comment.
To me,
It is rather disingenious that these types of letters would always without fail, mention about how the inability of speaking English would affect the other races, or those who cannot understand Mandarin.
I notice closely, that 9 out of 10 of these letters, are written by Chinese Singaporeans who are actually able to converse in Mandarin, and able to switch, but it is just that they are annoyed and prefer not to.
Actually I do not wish to blame them if they insist on speaking in English as their preferred primary communication method, and I wont blame them if they insist that bus workers and other service providers should be bilingual and should be proficient in English. However, what I do blame them, is that they never want to say it out directly, but pretend and use other roundabout reasons to beautify their arguments and make them look better / look good in the mirror. So they always say "how about other races who cannot speak Mandarin / those who dont understand Mandarin", they always like to take up the mantle to be the spokespersons of some others, instead of directly telling their own personal objections.
I think if they can write letters, they should tell the truth, and stop adding spices and flowers.
I think you miss the entire message.....I believe the writer is saying that For those PRC who wishes to work and live in Singapore the bare minimum is to be able to converse in basic simple English.
There are after all other races in this country that commute by public bus the median language is thru English.
PS: You know the PRC communicate thru "intent" rather than communicate thru words. You should be able to read between the line from the article.
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I wonder how she pronounced "Jalan Jurong Kechil"
Maybe her own pronounication at fault?
btw, how come ST used such words on the last 2nd para?
Not only are they offered attractive terms to work in Singapore, they are also eligible to apply for Singapore PR and eventually citizenship in Singapore which must be the only developed country in the world to give citizenships to bus drivers.
shldn't the word they use be "is" ? "Must be" sounds not confirmed lehx...
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Originally posted by CheckmateA1:
Another Singaporean complains about PRC bus drivers
A Singaporean by the name of Ginny Chia has written to the Straits Times Forum today complaining about the inability of PRC bus drivers to communicate in English.
She recounted a personal unpleasant experience with a PRC bus driver:
“I write with great concern over my recent unpleasant incidents with SMRT’s bus drivers. On one occasion, I inquired if the bus – service 970 – would take me to Jalan Jurong Kechil, to which the bus driver, a Chinese national, simply shot me a blank stare. When I asked in Mandarin, he finally gave me a nod.”
This is not the first time such a complaint is being aired publicly. The Straits Times Forum has received a deluge of letters from its readers over the last few months about the “attitude” of PRC bus drivers.
Ms Chia is incensed that bus drivers who are unable to speak English are offered jobs in Singapore:
“It is the basic role of bus drivers to not only drive along the correct routes but also be able to communicate with passengers. And is English not our working language? Are the information boards at bus stops not printed in English?”
Despite some unhappiness from the commuters, Singapore bus companies continue to mass recruit bus drivers from China, the latest being a recruitment exercise launched in Chengdu two months ago.
The news was reported in a Sichuan newspaper, but censored by the Singapore media. (read article here)
Ms Chia felt that the PRC bus drivers are employed due lower labor costs:
“It may be cheaper to hire foreign labour; doing so may increase profits and make up for the decreasing number of Singaporeans who are willing to take on these jobs. However, it should in no way alienate the local community, many of whom do not understand Mandarin.”
However, the reality is that they are offered comparable salaries to Singaporeans who will be otherwise keen to take up the job.
According to the same Sichuan report, the PRC bus drivers are offered annual salaries ranging between RMB90,000 and RMB120,000 (approximately $1,562 – $2,082 monthly taking S$1 = RMB4.80) On top of the attractive wages, they are also given free lodging, transport allowances and medical insurance coverage.
Not only are they offered attractive terms to work in Singapore, they are also eligible to apply for Singapore PR and eventually citizenship in Singapore which must be the only developed country in the world to give citizenships to bus drivers.
With the PAP’s mass “integration” exercise underway, Ms Chia should consider herself fortunate that she understands basic Mandarin to communicate with the newcomers.
TEMASEK REVIEW
This kind of ppl , bo tai ji chuai tai ji(nothing do wanna come find fault) one....
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i've seen the collaterals used to teach PRC bus captains english, it's really provocative.
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Originally posted by SBS7485P:
i've seen the collaterals used to teach PRC bus captains english, it's really provocative.
mind sharing some phrases?
do you mean the textbooks insult them, or the way they speak would easily insult others? -
Originally posted by SBS7485P:
i've seen the collaterals used to teach PRC bus captains english, it's really provocative.
LOL i saw it too
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Originally posted by sir_peanuts:
mind sharing some phrases?
do you mean the textbooks insult them, or the way they speak would easily insult others?they used han yu pin yin to translate the words from chinese to english. like please is smth like pi li zi. its just bizarre.
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Jln Jurong Kechil actual Chinese name not many ppl do know as far as younger gen is concerned.
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i kinda agree with this person. imagine bc/sl only know how to converse in malay or tamil how? but one must know the foundation of that language. afterall, it takes time for one to learn a new language.... so, instead, why not learn the basic of each languages used in singapore? makes life easier afterall....
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It's wierd that she can mention about the route display papers on bus stops, yet she still needs to enquire whether the bus goes to Jalan Jurong Kechil.
Either she is pa jiao, or she simply is stupid and can't be bothered to read the route information.
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should have
indian, malaysian driver
chinese passenger
language of conversation = malay. -
this auntie also dumb la... stay in singapore how many years liao?
wjile waiting for bus, dont know how to read the information board for route details?
dont know how to plan journey in advance anyhow jump inside a bus?
although true la... public bus drivers is also partially front-line staff, need to learn english...