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SINGAPORE: Questions have arisen about whether or not Singapore’s mainstream media retailers solely cowl the Authorities’s perspective on the current EZ-Hyperlink controversy after each The Straits Instances and CNA revealed articles accused of showing one-sided.
The articles got here within the days after the LTA introduced that EZ-Hyperlink playing cards and NETS FlashPay playing cards will not be accepted on public transport beginning in June and that every one non-concession playing cards have to be upgraded to SimplyGo EZ-Hyperlink playing cards or NETS pay as you go playing cards.
Whereas some have already upgraded to the SimplyGo system, others expressed deep disappointment and requested why the prevailing system wants fixing as it’s not damaged.
One vital level of competition revolves across the SimplyGo playing cards’ failure to show the cardboard stability at MRT gantries or bus card readers.
The LTA argues that this function, although technically possible, would impede the move of commuters on the gantries. Nonetheless, critics argue that the inconvenience of being unable to examine the cardboard stability at a look might result in extra steps for customers to find out if a top-up is critical.
Moreover, considerations have been raised about integrating the brand new system with present ones.
Drivers, particularly, lamented the inconvenience of not having the ability to use the identical card for Digital Highway Pricing (ERP), parking, and public transport underneath the brand new system.
On-line discussions have emphasised requires system integration somewhat than eliminating the prevailing setup.
Amid the furore, CNA revealed an explainer on why some commuters are upset with the change on Thursday (11 Jan). A day later, The Straits Instances revealed a narrative explaining the adjustments and why they have been made.
Each articles went into element about why the Land Transport Authority (LTA) is pushing for SimplyGo however didn’t appear to cowl the complaints on the bottom absolutely.
Asserting that these articles each sidestep the actual points on the centre of the controversy, veteran journalist Bertha Henson mentioned on Fb over the weekend that the native media is “pussyfooting across the EZ-Hyperlink fracas” and “have gone into overdrive to mollify” upset commuters.
She wrote on Saturday (13 Jan), “Mainstream media shied away from reporting commuters’ complaints absolutely, and moved straight into explanatory mode.
“After the MediaCorp revealed a CNA Explains which spoke of the backend course of that underpinned the SimplyGo platform which couldn’t incorporate some cherished options reminiscent of informing commuters about the price of the journey at level of journey, ST revealed an askST column which may very well be a duplicate of an LTA FAQ.”
Singaporeans responding to Ms Henson’s commentary requested whether or not the articles are a part of a public relations train by the LTA.
Some additionally identified the connection between the mainstream media and the Authorities, highlighting the Authorities’s determination to pump near a billion {dollars} into Singapore Media Belief, which publishes The Straits Instances.
Referring to the deliberate injection of 180 million {dollars} into Singapore Media Belief over 5 years, former Finance Ministry civil servant Shih-Tung Ngiam shared Ms Henson’s publish and quipped, “I imply the Govt has bought to get one thing for $180m/yr”
The publish Is mainstream media shying away from masking EZ-Hyperlink fracas? appeared first on The Unbiased Singapore Information – Newest Breaking Information
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