Man puts his fishing gear neatly near MRT door, says he got scolded by female SMRT staff, ‘act power’ and says she was in charge

An MRT passenger who placed his belongings neatly stacked by the train doors was surprised to be told off by the MRT staff, informing him to keep his items with him.

A Facebook page Complaint Singapore member shared his experience on Friday (Aug 12), adding he was on his way towards Marina South — one station before his stop when he decided to sit down.

The man said it was only him and another male passenger on the train, so he left his fishing items on top of each other beside the glass panel near the door.

“This woman (with a grumpy face and slightly red-brownish hair) wearing SMRT (Singapore Mass Rapid Transit) vest passes by and saw my items,” said the passenger.

“She immediately turned to me sitting opposite and asked if (the items) belonged to me,” said the man, who added it was rather obvious as he was wearing full fishing gear.

Still, he replied that the items belonged to him.

“She told me to take everything with me. I told her it’s okay as I’m alighting at the next station.”

The man recalled that the woman “whipped out her phone and wanted to take a photo” of his items like “act power.”

He panicked and blocked the woman’s camera view, worried that if she took the photos, they might be tagged as a bomb threat and would be confiscated.

“By then, the other passenger was also looking at us. She immediately told us she is in charge of the train.”

The man wondered why the woman responded that way — “act power” when he clarified it was his items and was not blocking anyone’s path.

“What about the ‘bags on floor’ movement? I used to work in a cleaning line under SBS Buses and SBS Train service, so I understand the safety precautions taken for public transport, but why have to enforce it in such an aggressive manner?”

The Independent Singapore has reached out to SMRT for a statement and will update the story accordingly. /TISG

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