Singapore seems to be tackling on larger issues and working double hard to spruce up for the upcoming national day at the Marina Bay.

I can already picture it, the magnificent Fullerton hotel, the majestic Merlion, the 'sky scrapers' of the CBD and of course the sound of swirling water of the Singapore river.

That's not the only event to look forward too, there's of course the Formula 1, and the much anticipated integrated resorts!

Those alone may be enough to help raise Singapore up the ranks as more then just a clean and green city.

Despite our size, our country has a lot going on for it.

Yes, we may be developing and improving at a pretty break-neck paced, which is good, but it seems majority of the people in Singapore are being left behind.

You would expect a developing country boasting with numerous pretigious events to have at the most basic etiquette.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that Singaporeans or just people who call Singapore their home are a bunch of rude mannered individuals.

But its just appalling to admire the developments of our country and yet know that there are people who are just not fitting, or not in line with the country's direction.

On the straits times website today, there's an article which reported that the National Environment Agency, SBS Transit and SMRT have joined forces to launch a campaign to encourage consumers to keep buses and bus interchanges clean!

Incentives, SBS Transit will be rewarding commuters with complementary ride for those who are spotted going out of their way to keep bus interchanges clean.

Its bad enough that conductors have to go around checking EZ-link cards to make sure commuters don't cheat on fares, and now they have to look out for the 'cleanest commuter award'!

In the article, they ranked cigarette butts, paper strips, tissue paper, plastic wrappers and sweet wrappers as the top five most common litters found in bus terminals.

Forgive me if i seem worked up but you would think commuters who use the services on a daily basis and a couple a times a day would have the decency to 'take ownership of their litter'!

Just to name you a few examples:

I was walking along the underground train station to the gantries when the lady in front of me stopped and spat on the ground! I would have stepped on it if i hadn't recovered from my state of shock and disgust as quick as I did!

Another one, I have witness a man on the bus, snort and dispensed his nasal fluid on the floor of the bus !!!!

And a lady spitting on the bus too.

That's not all, do Singaporeans of people in general not know to keep to the left hand side of the escalator unless overtaking?

Or that its only polite to let passengers off the train first before boarding?

I have to take my hat off to some though who, once the train doors open, they give a loud exclamation: “ you don't let me out how u go in?!”. And its usually pregnant mothers or parents with strollers.

My point is, yes, we are definitely growing and progressing as a nation but what about the people? And it is the people that make up the nation right.

But of course not everyone is like that.

It does raise eyebrows to have a country that looks great and is great but to have people who are so far off the tangent.

Labels: escalators, etiquette, National Environment Agency, SBS Transit, smrt, Spit, trains