It was supposed to be a normal day for Nurersyad Hyqel, 18, who was making his way to school on 5 Feb.
However, things quickly took a turn as he noticed a man stalking a woman who was alighting from the bus he was on.
He told the victim of the man’s suspicious activity and notified the MRT security personnel, leading to the stalker’s eventual arrest, reported The New Paper.
For this act, he received a Student Commendation Award from Institute of Technical Education (ITE) College Central on Tuesday (18 Feb).
According to The New Paper, the ITE College Central student was actually sitting 2 seats away from the stalker.
The man was apparently committing an obscene act and filming the woman. When he followed her after she alighted, Hyqel suspected he was stalking her.
The stalker kept filming the woman, who was heading to Khatib MRT station.
Source
When Hyqel reached the train platform, he knew he had to act decisively and so approached the woman, Ms Fasleenah, to inform her of what was happening.
She reportedly demanded to see the alleged stalker’s phone, but he refused initially.
Eventually, he unlocked his phone, which she “quickly… snatched away”.
To her horror, his phone allegedly contained many videos he had filmed of other women, in addition to the ones of her walking to the station.
Ms Fasleenah then told Hyqel to inform the MRT security personnel, and the stalker was detained.
Source
The Singapore police acknowledged the incident, telling TNP in a statement that they were alerted to a case of public nuisance and possession of obscene film.
The man was arrested and police investigations are ongoing.
One thing that’s without dispute is Hyqel’s courageous act, which did not go unnoticed.
On Tuesday (18 Feb), his school presented him with the ITE College Central Student Commendation Award.
Looking back on the incident, Hyqel told TNP he was not afraid to stand up to do the right thing,
If you see something wrong, you have to speak up and not think it is none of your business.
His principal Mr Suresh Natarjan added that the school was proud of his public-spiritedness.
Kudos to Hyqel for his bravery and for doing the right thing.
We can do the right thing too — if you see someone being put in an uncomfortable situation, be like Hyqel and stand up for what’s right.
Regardless of who we are, we have the power to do something for our community.
Featured image adapted from The New Paper.
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