I am proud of our country being top in efficiency be it civil service, law enforcement, airport, municipal services etc.however one such incident had to change my perspective on one aspect of the efficient system.
On the evening of 26th July, both my colleague and I had taken a wrong bus to our intended destination, Woodland Bus interchange but instead ended up in Woodland Checkpoint. We could not backtrack and were advised by the ICA officer to report to the Security Pass office so that we would be escorted out of the checkpoint though we were still in Spore side.
We handed our identity cards to the officer in the Pass Office and were told to wait. Later we were joined by a foreign worker who also took a wrong bus. After waiting for 20minutes I approached the officer to check on our status but was told again to wait. After about 45minutes, I was visually upset and asked the officer again but was given the same answer.
There were 5 Aetos officers in a small glass cubicle snacking and chit chatting happily away. When I requested that one of them could escort us out, one of the officers remarked that it was not their purview and responsibility to do so. Another 10minutes had passed, and we including the workers were escorted by another Aetos officer to report to the ICA office. Again, our identity cards were handed to the officer in charge. After waiting another 20 minutes, we were cleared and escorted out through the usual check point where we were scanned.
Again, our identity cards were handed to the officer in charge. After waiting another 20 minutes, we were cleared and escorted out through the usual check point where we were scanned.
We had made an innocent mistake to take the wrong bus but we felt like we were treated like immigration offenders and had to endure the long wait to be escorted out. What deeply upset us was that not one of the 5 Aetos officers was helpful enough to bring us into the ICA office which is a floor below but instead stuck strictly to their defined responsibility.
I wish to question the Home Ministry whether is it standard operating protocols to have these officers sitting inside the office instead of doing their external patrolling.
I accepted and have no objection to complying to ICA procedures but I could not accept and disgusted to find security personnel whiling away their time instead of doing productive works.
I sincerely hope that should there are similar cases, the security officers should take efforts and initiate to help to bring the travellers to the relevant office for clearance instead of having ‘party time’ inside their office.
Facebook Post By: Eric Tanth
Source -> http://last-cabin.xfer.tk/2017/08/took-wrong-bus-to-woodland-checkpoint-officers-made-him-wait-over-1-hour-just-to-leave-the-place/
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