SMRT says sorry for 'income opportunity' message to taxi drivers

SMRT has apologised for a message it broadcast to its fleet of taxis on Thursday amid the chaos on the subway system.

The message, which flashed on its taxi drivers' screens at about 8pm, read: 'Income opportunity. Dear partners, there is a breakdown in our MRT train services from Bishan MRT to Marina Bay MRT stretch of stations.'

A photo of the screen - presumably taken by a taxi passenger - soon appeared on social networking site Twitter and spread online, drawing sharp criticism.

'Bad enough they are raising taxi fares, now they want to cash in on an event that is their fault to begin with,' said sales assistant Candice Tan, 24, one of the many who tweeted about it.

Attempts to contact the photographer were unsuccessful. The message, presumably sent by SMRT call centrestaff, would have reached all 3,100 taxis in its fleet.

An SMRT spokesman said on Thursday night: 'We are sorry for the oversight. Our staff were using a template message, and we have since corrected it.'

DARYL CHIN

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