‘Go back to M’sia’: Man allegedly harasses, spits at man & toddler at Geylang bus stop, 1 day after his S'porean citizenship ceremony

While at a bus stop at Geylang Serai on Oct. 27, a middle-aged man allegedly approached another man and his six-month-old toddler and harassed them.

The father, who gave his name as T, said the other man swung his bag towards T's stroller, hitting the baby.

He then repeatedly placed his bag on the baby's chest.

When confronted, he allegedly spat at T and shouted "Go back to Malaysia".

This happened just a day after T's Singaporean citizenship ceremony, he told Mothership.

"To hear those words the very next day was deeply painful and disheartening," he said.

Thought it was an accident

T described the man as in his 40s, wearing a black T-shirt, black shorts, and slippers.

He was getting off Bus 197 with his baby's stroller in Geylang Serai when the man approached him.

Without warning, the man allegedly swung the white plastic bag he'd been carrying towards the stroller, hitting the baby's upper body.

He then placed the bag down on the baby's chest, T claimed.

Thinking it might've been an accident, T asked the man why he did that.

He replied that his bag was "heavy".

"Go back to Malaysia"

But the man repeated his actions.

When T realised it was deliberate, he shouted at the man to stop and pushed him away from the baby.

As he was checking on the child, the man allegedly walked up to him, spat, and shouted: "Go back to Malaysia."

T then left and lodged a police report.

New citizen

T pointed out that the harassment was particularly chilling as it took place at a bus stop directly in front of a preschool.

Many infants and young children pass by the area daily, he said.

He added that the alleged offender might have recognised him to be of Malaysian origin by his accent, as he'd been speaking to his baby.

T also said that he has since reached out to his Member of Parliament, Diana Pang, to inform her of the incident.

Pang had been the one to present him with his citizenship certificate during the Oct. 26 ceremony, he said.

He recalled it as a moment in which he felt "truly grateful and proud".

Email correspondence viewed by Mothership confirmed that he had raised the issue with Pang.

In response, Pang said she had forwarded the email to the relevant authorities.

She added that she would follow up with the police investigation.

Hopes bystanders will come forward

Finally, T said that he hopes that bystanders will come forward in future.

He said it was "disappointing" that nobody came forward to help his baby.

"My baby is only six months old, too young to defend himself or understand why someone would do this," he said.

"I hope that by sharing my experience, it can remind others to show compassion and act when such situations happen in public."

In response to Mothership's queries, the Singapore Police Force confirmed that a report was lodged and investigations are ongoing.

Top image from T and Google Maps