Cause and Effect, Effect and Cause

If the conceptualisation, implementation and efficient management of the MRT system was accredited to the Singaporean Government, then surely it is a logical response of Singaporeans to affix the blame onto the Government when the MRT system experiences repeated technical difficulties. There is no justification for any distinction between SMRT/SBS and the Singapore Government during a time of crisis, if the efficiency and foresight of the MRT has been cited by ministers as being a direct result of their benign rule.

This brings to mind the tradition of "Heaven's Mandate", an Asian system where the legitimacy of an Emperor's rule has a direct correlation between the welfare of his people. If the empire experienced a series of crippling natural disasters, it would often provide the impetus and pretext for an uprising, especially if nothing was initiated to mitigate their effects. Now, just to clarify, I am not advocating a rebellion against the Government and State of Singapore. Nothing could be further from the truth. I am merely pointing out the fallacies of logic inherent when a government is held responsible for the outcome of a series of events where they have either indirect control, or no control at all. Just as it was ridiculous to expect the Emperor of China to possess authority over the elements, so it is to expect the Government of Singapore to have control over the operations of a nominally independent corporation. The failures of this association has been made evident in the public backlash over the inefficiency of the rail network, leading the Government scrambling to implement a slew of measures to appease a irate public. 

The Government of Singapore has always prided itself on not simply being 'Primus inter pessimus', or best amongst the worst, but rather possessing the mandate of the people by proving to be actually be efficient and productive. Perhaps it may reconsider citing other developments that are not directly under it's control, so as to stem public discontent when such an enterprise experiences difficulties?