I think that people should stop thrashing Phua Chu Kang. Sad as it is, it is still the funniest Singapore sitcom, well definitely one of the better ones anyway. And PCK & Co. are still rather effective and representative ambassadors of Singapore..


Take the SARS and MRT courtesy raps for example. While they prompted some eye-rolling from humourless, critical people, the huge presence did make its points, and the messages were effective. Seeing PCK and Rosie standing warningly next to the MRT doors/squatting above the reserved seats reminded people that it is only basic courtesy to not pit ourselves against the outflow crowd or pretend to be engrossed in a book/smsing/playing nintendo DS while a papery old man sways dangerously in front of us. And I didn't realise this until my recent summer holiday back in Singapore.


When the courtesy rap first started, and I was back in Singapore for my summer holidays in my 2nd year, I was pleasantly shocked by my fellow countrymen standing aside to give way at the MRT doors. Of course, it didn't take me long to get used to it, and I thought, "Hm. Singapore IS becoming a more gracious and affluent society." So this carried on for some time, even during my last last holiday when the yellow boots no longer squatted over the reserved seats.



Like I said, I had gotten used to queueing to the side of the MRT doors behind fellow passengers who had arrived before me and had also kind of gotten used to the sight of empty reserved seats. So during my most recent summer holiday back, I automatically stood aside to let the passengers get OFF, only to be stupidly bypassed by people behind me getting ON.


Wth?



And it was not just once. It happened everytime during that last holiday back in Singapore. So I think much as people are sick of/critise PCK, he actually does exert quite a strong influence..