Tan Kah Kee? Don't make me laugh.

I was completely pissed when I read an article in The Straits Times saying that one of the Downtown Line stations located outside Hwa Chong Instituion will be named Tan Kah Kee, a prominent figure in HCI. Not only is it an ugly name, it is not practical and highly biased to name a station after someone who has a special place in an elite school! Ugh. I hope the LTA takes my feedback seriously. I can't imagine having more MRT station names being named after people, rather than location. To show my displeasure, I wrote to the LTA.

I am writing to express my displeasure towards the naming of the station located outside Hwa Chong Institution and would like to urge the LTA to reconsider the name. While the name Tan Kah Kee does have a significant meaning for the institution, the name chosen is not practical and highly biased. Although it is true that the station is located right outside the insitution, the station will also be used by other schools nearby such as Nanyang Girls High School and National Junior College as well. Naming the station Tan Ah Kee signifies a preference towards HCI and will be unfair to the other schools. The fact that HCI lobbied its students to suggest Tan Kah Kee as a name for the station further shows that the LTA is being influenced by the school and not by the public in general. Hence, it is indirectly showing a particular preference as well as elitism which displeases Singaporeans like me who did not attend the school. Why should this station be named after someone who had an affiliation with a particular institution when there are so many other alternative names? The LTA might also come across as displaying double standards as many stations located outside schools have not been named after these institutions or with names relating to their history. Examples include Dover station located outside Singapore Polytechnic, Marymount station located outside Raffles Junior College and Insitution, Bartley station located nearby Maris Stellah High School and many others.

Naming stations after people will open the floodgates as schools will start campaigning for names significant to their history to be chosen for stations whenever a new one is constructed near or outside their school. I, and many other Singaporeans personally prefer current naming conventions that reflect location. The LTA should strictly follow it to show impartiality. The LTA should also take note of the fact that many residences live in the area the station is serving and consider their opinions. Most would not have have attended the school and thus, would not be able to identify with Tan Kah Kee. Naming the station Duchess or Watten would however enable these residents to identify with the station name.

On top of that, naming the station Tan Kah Kee does not show practicality. As I mentioned ealier, many SIngaporeans are not aware of who Tan Kah Kee is, let alone him being a prominent figure in HCI. Many commuters will not know location of the station which may lead to confusion. Prague's metro faced such a situation before 1990 when stations were named after Communist ideology, not location. Hence, I would strongly urge the LTA to reconsider the name Tan Kah Kee. It is impractical and biased.