SBS Transit says sorry for ‘Marry Christmas’ greeting at MRT station
Rail operator SBS Transit has apologised for a spelling mistake in a Christmas greeting at an MRT station, after it drew criticism from social media users. Photo: Social media
SINGAPORE — Rail operator SBS Transit has apologised for a spelling mistake in a Christmas greeting at an MRT station, after it drew criticism from social media users.
A photo was circulating online, showing the greeting “Marry Christmas”, which was flashed on a digital panel near the escalators of an unidentified station on the Downtown MRT Line.
Ms Tammy Tan, SBS Transit’s senior vice-president for corporate communications, said in response to queries from the press that the spelling was corrected, and the operator is “very sorry for the error in spelling”.
“We hope this has not marred the festivities for any of our commuters,” she added. SBS Transit did not state which station it was where the greeting was shown.
Social media users seized the opportunity to make fun of the gaffe, with some quipping about whether “Christmas” would be “the ideal life partner” or that if no one wanted to marry Christmas, there might be a “breakdown”.
Others were upset by the “bad English these days” and some pointed out that the spelling blunder mirrored the one at the Kota Bharu airport in northeast Malaysia, which also captured public attention recently. A signboard wished travellers “Mary Christmas and Happy New Years”, and airport operator Malaysia Airports had to apologise for the boo-boo as well.
The operator said in a Facebook post on Christmas Eve: “We have immediately removed the bunting upon discovering the error last night. We wish to assure you that this does not involve any other airports … We extend our apologies, and wish you Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.”
