‘She carried on with her annoying voice’: Local frustrated after middle-aged passenger ignored his plea to lower loud phone call on MRT

SINGAPORE: In December 2024, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) rolled out new stickers across MRT stations, urging commuters to keep noise levels down, avoid sitting on the floor, and occupy only one seat.

Yet, despite these reminders plastered all over the trains, some passengers appear determined to treat them as mere decorations. According to CNA, more than 160 notices of offence have already been issued since the new signs appeared, proof that good manners on public transport are still very much a work in progress.

One frustrated local recently shared his own run-in with a rule-breaker on the Complaint Singapore Facebook group on Monday (Oct 20).

In his post, he recounted how, during his trip from Toa Payoh to Newton, he encountered a middle-aged woman, whom he believed to be from China, having what seemed like a public broadcast of her phone call. 

“This PRC middle-aged woman was talking so loudly on her phone and had her speaker very loud too,” he said. “Everyone was looking but reluctant to say something. I then said to her, ‘Aunty, wear your headphones.’

However, his plea fell on deaf ears. According to him, the woman barely acknowledged him, casting only a brief glance before returning to her conversation as if nothing had happened.

“She just looked at me and carried on with her annoying voice disturbing the peace. Annoying, annoying, and annoying,” he wrote, clearly at his wit’s end. “What is Singapore going to be when it is going to be full of them populating our small space?”

“If you can’t fight them, then join them.”

In the comments, one netizen argued that the local should not have backed down and should have firmly told the rule-breaking passenger that “speaking loudly on public transport and disturbing other commuters is prohibited, just like eating inside the train.”

Another suggested, “If you can’t fight them, then join them. Like talk louder right in front of her face maybe.”

A third added that if the local faces a similar situation in the future, he could report the incident to “SMRT or SBS Transit” and provide full details, including the train number, time, and location, to ensure the authorities can take appropriate action.

In other news, one jobseeker says she’s “pissed off” after an interview she had carefully prepared for lasted only two to three minutes, ending abruptly with little more than a few questions and a quick “Thanks, we have other applicants.”

Sharing her experience on the r/SingaporeRaw subreddit on Friday (Oct 10), the 22-year-old explained how ridiculous the whole thing felt. According to her, the interview consisted of only about four questions: what she was currently doing, whether she knew the role she was applying for, and whether she was aware the position was 100% commission-based.

Read more: Jobseeker says she’s ‘pissed off’ after interview she prepared for lasted only 3-4 minutes with 4 questions