Outcry After Elderly SDA Seen Standing At Pasir Ris Hawker Centre, NEA Says She Can Take Breaks
An elderly safe-distancing ambassador was made to stand at the entrance of Pasir Ris Hawker Centre when the management allegedly took away the chair meant for them to use.
Ryaan Hannafi highlighted the issue in a Facebook post that garnered over 2000 shares.
Source: Facebook, Ryaan Hannafi
“Management removed the seat” was what the aunty said when Ryaan asked why she was standing the whole day. According to Ryaan, he wasn’t able to reach out to the management and ask them why the aunty was made to stand for her shift.
Ryaan also mentioned that there were some netizens who said that they saw the aunty standing during her shift since the weekend. He felt that it was unfair that the aunty is made to stand on a daily basis for her shifts taking into account her age.
“It’s not a matter of race or religion, it’s about how we treat the elderly. It’s unfair to them.”
Netizens shared their unhappiness at how the aunty was being treated by the management, most of them calling out the management for being heartless.
Most tagged Pasir Ris Central Hawker Centre, demanding an explanation.
One mentioned that other trace screeners were given chairs to sit on the previous week.
Then there is one who felt that the post is racially charged and self victimising. It’s not about the race, it’s about how the elderly should be treated.
If she took a closer look at the photo posted, she would have realised that the aunty was indoors. The argument that the chair was taken away because it was raining makes no sense.
Here’s another faceless keyboard warrior. The aunty reportedly said that the management took away the chair so there is a possibility that she asked the management before resigning to her fate of having to stand for her shift.
A netizen who used to work for the same organisation shared her own experience with bad management.
There were netizens who reached out to Pasir Ris Central Hawker Centre and PRCH said that they were looking into the matter.
Ryaan said that his father saw the aunty still standing for her shift at about 8.30 pm. He hopes that his post will create awareness on how the management is treating their elderly staff and take it seriously.
We reached out to Pasir Ris Central Hawker Centre for clarification but received no reply at the time of writing.
At the end of the day, it is not about race, religion or special concessions that should be made towards those who are fasting. It is about having compassion for elderly workers. Standing for 10 to 12 hours daily will tire young people, what more these elderlies?
Update: NEA released a statement on Facebook at about 2pm saying that personnel are not required to stand all day. They are allowed to take short breaks in between should they feel tired.
Source: National Environment Agency (NEA)
Reporter’s Opinions:Those who made it about race and fasting, clearly you missed the point. You took a look at how the aunty was dressed and immediately assumed the furore was because she’s a fasting Muslim.
Narrow minded people, widen your lenses please. I am sure if it was another elderly in her place, the post would have garnered the same attention.
Let me educate you on this month that’s sacred to Muslims. The whole purpose is for humankind to practice compassion towards others regardless of their race or religion. No fasting person will ask for special concession while they observe it. But when they receive it from others, they will accept it because that’s the spirit of Ramadan. It is to celebrate the spirit of giving and inculcate kindness in one’s heart.
So please learn more about what you’re observing and view things with compassion.
Listen to Plan B’s Podcast this week!
Comments