Netizens flame new 666 bus service announced by LTA
A new privately-owned bus service has gotten pitchforks from netizens after it was given the bus number 666. (Yahoo file photo)
By Hadi Lee
A Facebook post by the Land Transport Authority (LTA) on Monday announcing the launch of new bus services quickly got people poking fun at new bus service 666’s suggestive number.
“Always suspected Satan was living in Punggol,” Sivaraj Pragasm wrote.
Operating between Punggol and Marina Boulevard, the newly-launched bus service is one of five new City Direct Services (CDS) that will enable residents to enjoy direct trips to the Central Business District in Singapore.
Other new CDSs, numbered 667 to 670, will serve residents in Clementi, Dover, Ang Mo Kio, Bedok and Yishun. These new services are operated by private bus operators.
Bus service 666 runs directly from Punggol to the CBD (Photo: Land Transport Authority / Facebook)
However, it appears only bus service 666’s announcement has gained traction on Facebook, garnering more than 100 likes and nearly 500 shares at the time of this report.
According to the last book in the Bible, 666 is the number or name of the Beast, considered the devil. The numbers “666” are also sung in the chorus of Iron Maiden’s 1982 single Number Of The Beast.
Bus service 666 will be run by BT&TAN Transport Pte Ltd.
Some netizens have quickly gotten in on the act, mocking the bus service’s number and making references to the song.
“Well, the bus does take some people to hell (i.e. work) every morning,” Kenneth Low wrote in jest.
Another user, Patrick Chang, was especially critical of LTA’s decision to remain numbering bus service 666.
“Are there no other better number combinations? Reminding people that living in Punggol is like in hell?” Chang commented.
Others like Aaron Quek were quick to dismiss the brouhaha surrounding the new bus service number, downplaying 666’s significance.
“With so many different religions, languages and dialects [in Singapore], there is no way to cater to all as every number can be found offensive by someone,” he wrote.
“As a secular state, we definitely don’t need to be like some Catholic schools overseas who skip the number 666 for locker numbers.”
Buses 666 to 670 will operate on weekday mornings and evening peak periods, excluding public holidays. They complement 10 current buses on the CDS program, which is part of LTA’s Bus Service Enhancement Programme launched in 2012.
