A Go-Ahead Singapore bus captain was treated in hospital after allegedly being physically assaulted, in the second such case in about three months.
A police report has been made over the incident, said the public transport operator in a Facebook post on Thursday (27 Aug).
Source: Go-Ahead Singapore
The alleged assault took place at about 5.20pm on 16 Aug, Go-Ahead said.
At the time, the bus captain was operating Service 2, which plies between Changi Village Terminal and Kampong Bahru Terminal.
It did not elaborate on the circumstances leading to the alleged assault, or where on the route it occurred.
Source: Ka Fai Lai on Facebook. Photo for illustration purposes only.
The trip was disrupted following the incident, Go-Ahead said.
The bus captain sought medical attention and was treated for his injuries at Changi General Hospital (CGH).
In a Facebook post of its own, the National Transport Workers’ Union (NTWU) said that its representative accompanied the bus captain to CGH.
His injuries were fortunately not serious, and he has since returned to work.
A police report has been lodged with the support of Go-Ahead, which noted that it is cooperating fully with the authorities in the ongoing investigations.
The company is also continuing to provide the bus captain with its “full support”, it added.
Public transport workers deserve to be treated with respect and should never have to face abuse or violence while doing their job, the company said, maintaining:
We do not condone any form of abuse or violence against our colleagues, who carry out their duties every day so that commuters can reach their destinations safely.
Source: Go-Ahead Singapore on Facebook
NTWU said the union and Go-Ahead “stand firmly” with transport workers, and will continue to support the affected bus captain.
In a Facebook post on Friday (28 Aug), NTWU Executive Secretary Yeo Wan Ling said she was “deeply concerned” by the alleged assault.
What made it “particularly troubling” was that it was the second such incident involving a Go-Ahead bus captain in the span of three months, she added.
In the previous incident, which also took place on Service 2, the bus captain was allegedly verbally abused and physically assaulted while he was driving on 23 May.
This happened after a commuter grew angry when he missed his bus stop.
In that case, a police report was also made.
Source: National Transport Workers’ Union on Facebook
Ms Yeo, who is also an MP for Punggol GRC, revealed that the police had also attended to the scene of the incident on 16 Aug.
The bus captain involved will be provided with the support he needs, including legal assistance “where required”, she said, adding:
We must also do everything we can to prevent such incidents and make clear that abuse, intimidation and violence against workers carrying out their duties will not be tolerated.
While disagreements and frustrations may arise during a journey, they can and should be resolved without resorting to abuse or violence, she maintained.
In May, before the latest two incidents on Go-Ahead buses, Ms Yeo had decried the increasing incidents faced by public transport workers.
Besides verbal abuse on the ground, they are also subjected to a “growing trend” of doxxing and online rage-baiting, she said.
This is unacceptable as Singapore’s frontline transport workers keep the nation moving every day and thus deserve respect, protection, and a safe working environment without fear of abuse, harassment, or intimidation, she added.
Source: Yeo Wan Ling on Facebook
Behaviour that threatens the safety, dignity and well-being of our workers or commuters cannot be normalised, she also stated.
Also read: Go-Ahead bus captain verbally and physically assaulted after commuter misses stop
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Featured image adapted from Ka Fai Lai on Facebook. Photo for illustration purposes only.