Jennifer Anne Champion, a Singaporean writer, was waiting at the airport arrival hall on January 10, when she witnessed an ugly xenophobic incident.

She shared her story in a Facebook note on January 11.

According to Champion, while waiting at the arrival hall, she noticed a "bespectacled Chinese man in [his] forties (wearing a) sky blue polo shirt". Standing next to him was a family of three (a couple and a child), obviously waiting for someone to come through the arrival gates.

Soon enough, the family warmly welcomed a lady, which saw the child approaching her to give her hug. It was just like a scene out of the movies, according to Champion.

But just as every movie needs a villain, Champion said that the bespectacled man interrupted the happy reunion by saying, "No hugging here. Can you see? This is Singapore. Go hug outside (the rails).”

Champion had initially thought that Mr Spectacles (as she called him) had meant that the family should not block the way for others who were exiting the arrival hall. However, she added that the next sentence from Mr Spectacles squashed that thought.

He said, "This is Singapore. You Filipinos, go back to the Philippines. This is Singapore."

Suffice to say, Champion and all of us are aghast.

Champion went on to confront the man, but the exchange did not go far, and ended up with Mr Spectacles beating a slow retreat.

There is a message in this story that Champion highlighted: Bigotry towards another nationality is not what Singapore stands for because "the people of Singapore are a result of never-ending waves of migration".

That's something to reflect on.

Champion's full note on Facebook can be found here.

Top photo from Changi Airport's Facebook and Champion's Facebook note.

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