to all Singaporeans, in case you're wondering how NOT to fall onto MRT tracks, i can only offer you one solution : STAND FURTHER BACK the YELLOW LINE!!

it's worked for me so far.

i'm not being unsympathetic to the people who have fallen onto the tracks in the last months. we'll chalk these cases down, as the police might say, as accidents or unnatural deaths, but for pete's sake, basic common sense should prevail in such matters.

i know everyone waiting for a train wants to get away from the crowd, but you should just run away from the tracks and huddle in the middle section with the other long-suffering passengers.

one of my friend was right outside bishan MRT station when something happened! a man fell onto the track and died. of course he did not know that at that time as he was waiting for a cab. but the big commotion, throngs of kaypoh Singaporeans, dozens of Civil Defense vehicles and barrage of photographers hinted at something extraordinary happening in the area.

his friend asked him what he thought had happened. he thought "Was there a new place that promised a quick haircut in 9 instead of 10 minutes?"

one funny thing happened to him. he thought a taxi driver was slowing down to pick him up, but no, he stopped, got out to see - not what was going on - but what everyone else thought was going on.

one hapless Civil Defence officer walked around and told people "there's nothing to see." and "get off the rails" but no one listened to him.

and now the nightmare continues, just few days ago [or rather what am claimed as hot news], another man died. people are writing in to the papers to say that barricaeds should be erected at MRT station platforms. steel barriers should be raised.

i have better ideas.

why don't we go a step further and have armed escorts handcuff and lead us into the train once they have established that it has come to a complete and safe stop?

why don't we have ferocious patrol dogs lined up to prevent passengers from going anywhere near the train until it has come to a complete and safe stop?

again my fantastic ideas will prolly be ignored and i still can't figure out why.

why don't we just stand a little further back, at least one body-length, from the edge of the platform? if anyone still gets hit by the train, i'm telling you, this world is going to end soon. god must have hated every humans in the world that even scratching yourself would lead you to allergies and thus, death.

one magazine once published a great piece of advice if you ever found yourself in dilemma. "suck it up and think, "what would britney spears do?"

well, guys, britney spears would look at the oncoming train and say the same thing that i did STAND FURTHER BACK.