singapore singapore grapple controversy refuse go away month rainwater flood tunnel mass rapid transit mrt service lead partial suspension train run weekend rare public apology top transit executives assurance government cause clear fix complicate do little appease public come expect glitch-free efficiency front page state-owned straits time newspaper week feature photo grim-faced top transit executives gallery parliament transport minister say good could face pay cut facts october incident complicate cause incident clear minister khaw boon wan say add poor maintenance neglect duties transit managers blame responsibility management set right culture professionalism excellence begin top poor culture ceo responsible scrutiny disruption cities would consider minor barely newsworthy reflect pressure government explain fail deliver near-perfect public service singapore residents highly dependent public transport one world expensive place vehicle recently announce allow growth car population february voter discontent public service particularly alarm rule party saw bad election show 2011 40 percent voters go partly dismay grow strain public transport people action party rule singapore one rich stable countries world without interruption since independence 1965. transit operator smrt chief desmond kuek quote email staff say week celebration mark 30-year anniversary subway operations instead awash collective shame staff let us kuek say email accord straits time minor train disruption rattle singapore 's reputation glitch-free service