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Comment: Kindness never overrated

A screen shot of the video uploaded by Foo Suan Wang. About 30 people rushed over to the scene of the accident, which happened at the junction of Bendeemer Road and Boon Keng Road on 22 July. They tilted the lorry and pulled the victim out of harm’s way.

By Zul Othman

Who says public spiritedness is dead in Singapore?

Three incidents this past month have, to me at least, dispelled any idea that we Singaporeans are an apathetic, uncaring lot.

Often, we are accused of being fixated on material comforts and uncaring to the problems of others.

When it comes to the latter, recent events have shown that’s not always the case.

On 20 July, a video of an elderly woman being abused was uploaded by a neighbour on Facebook and went viral.

It has since been shared more than 30,000 times and has sparked an investigation by the authorities.

In another incident, a man was trapped under a lorry following an accident on 22 July.

About 30 people rushed over to the scene of the accident, which happened at the junction of Bendeemer Road and Boon Keng Road.

They tilted the lorry and pulled the victim, a 35-year-old South Korean, out of harm’s way.

This act was captured on video and then uploaded on Facebook. The footage has since been shared more than 2,000 times, reported the Straits Times.
No doubt, many people - this scribe included - were in awe seeing so many strangers respond to the aid of another so quickly.

Foo Suan Wang, who uploaded the picture to Facebook, told the newspaper: “I did not know there was someone pinned under because I could not see anyone. I thought someone was hit and lying on the other side, but later realised he was under.”

Mr Foo reportedly witnessed the incident from his office building nearby.
“Suddenly many people just came to try to lift the truck. Everyone spontaneously joined in and there was no need to tell them.”

The victim, who was here on a business trip, reportedly escaped with a leg fracture.

It was a good act that received praise all around.

Singapore Kindness Movement associate general secretary Cesar Balota told The Straits Times: "We’ve always believed that Singaporeans are not as harsh or as cold as people make us out to be.”

And just earlier this month (7 July), netizens applauded the actions of Muhammad Hanafie, 25, who came to the rescue of a commuter who was harassed on an MRT train.

The hero also received praise from Law and Foreign Affairs Minister K Shanmugam, who told ChannelNewsAsia on July 15 that Muhammad’s actions “reinforces positive conduct”.

KINDNESS

William Wan, the Singapore Kindness Movement chief, once wrote a commentary which urged Singaporeans to bring back the kampung (village) spirit of kindness.

But clearly that spirit never went away, even if inconsiderate behaviour like quarrels and racist rants gets more headlines in the media.

In the case of the abused elderly woman, it is heartening to see people stand up to such acts - even if it means capturing abuse on video.

Mohammad Juani Ali, who uploaded the incident which happened at Lower Delta Road, was quoted as saying in The Straits Times: “So many occasions I’ve seen… hitting the auntie with the broom, hitting her head on the wall. All that is too harsh to do to an old lady.”

The 25-year-old also told the newspaper that he and his family would be moving out of the rental flat in two months’ time. He said he would “regret not doing something” if anything happens to the woman.

He then shot a video and according to the Straits Times, Juani made a police report on Tuesday (21 July) after the police called him to make an official report.
Perhaps now it’s time to take these acts as an inspiration and to lay to rest the ghost of the apathetic Singaporean.

Taking a stand for graciousness is an admirable thing to do, after all.