wah lao, don’t judge a book by its cover can or not!? like this don’t need Yellow Ribbon Project Singapore liao loh jibais. if really want screen, at least find a corner not in the middle of the station lah, he also didn’t committed any offences that need to be screen in the middle of the station tio boh!? bodoh siol !
–
SMRT PATROL OFFICERS!!!
Please get this into your head. Tattoed people and Tagged people are not a threat to your Country. Please wake up. What’s becoming of Singapore and its measures to ensure a safe country for all to live in? You are bloody wasting your time checking on common people like us whilst letting the true suspects slip out of your sight. Stop thinking straight. Cause it aint gonna get you any close to keeping the country safe. Criminals would be thinking out of the box while you are still stuck in that box.
This is what happened to me. I am en ex-convict and just got out of prison after serving a 2 year term. Currently, I am on a tagging Programme with the Singapore Prisons and have a watch-like device on my ankle(as seen in picture 1) which is used to track my whereabouts and ensure I comply with my curfew. This happened at Eunos MRT Station at about 1140am yesterday. I was on my way to meet someone who is involved in my Prison Programme. I was late and thus was in a rush. I had to use the washroom before taking the Train for a 45 minutes journey. Before I went to the washroom, I noticed the SMRT Patrol Officers screening someone. When I was done and made my way to tap in to the platform, I was stopped by these officers.
They felt I looked suspicious and said that they want me to come aside with them cause they need to talk me for a while. I showed them my tagging and told them I need to rush but they said it was just for a while and a fast one.
I was angry when they were insistent after I spoke of my tagging. As we walked, I asked them what they wanted. They asked me for my particulars. I asked them what was it for. They said for screening. I told them it was very irritating for me to see them to treat me like that. Yet, I took out my ID, gave it to them and just told them it was ridiculous to screen despite me showing I have tagging. They looked at me as I paced up and down. Then, the officer handed me my ID and told me thank you. Right after that, another Malay officer sarcastically said, “Thank you so much.” I was unhappy about his absurd behaviour and stopped to ask for his particulars. While asking, I attempted to take a picture of him. But he did not allow me and covered my mobile’s camera lens (as seen in picture 2).
He asked me to just write down the details. I told him I have no pen. He passed me a pen and paper and spelt out his Name as I was writing with reference to his name tag. The Name of the officer is Sergeant Habib Noor. He said he was the in charge of that Team and I was taken aback. An IC of the Team and he had this kind of attitude. He set a bad example for his Team and this was projected clearly from the way they spoke to me. I returned the pen and he said “Thank you” again sarcastically. Another officer repeated the same. I was totally astonished by the way they treat people like us and was dumbfounded. This is being disrespectful and biase. I said nothing more and made a move.
In the name of doing their job, they are just picking on first look suspects just by our appearance and not even cause we have a suspicous body language. Their way of concluding one to be a suspect is unreasonable. And the way they treat us is totally unacceptable. They deemed me as suspicious and decided that I am capable of being a threat to the commuters only because I had a tag on my ankle. Cause it clearly shows I am an ex-convict. Is that what our Country has taught us? Where is the togetherness and equality they kept repeating to us when we were in school? What happened to all those bragging about 2nd chance to ex-offenders? So it was only for publicity but not put to real act isn’t it? As long as I am an ex-offender, I shall be deemed a suspect. As I am capable of committing a crime yet again. Moreover I am a threat to my own people. So I have to accept it. And this is gonna haunt me all my life? I don’t understand.
I used to feel ashamed to walk around with this. And even avoided travelling in Public Transports. However, I became used to it after my fellow Colleagues and my Employer paid no mind to my tagging and accepted me for the way I am at the present moment. Even strangers like Cabbies and UBER drivers strike a conversation when they see me with this tagging and make me feel comfortable as well as complete the trip with the best route to ensure I reach home on time. Recently, I have been taking the Public transport frequently and feel so good that I am once again a part of this community. However, it did not turn out as comfortable. I hope that my sharing can help improve the way People like us are seen as well as treated in this society. We wanna reform and be a part of you. Please do not put us down cause of our past. We are trying to forget it and start anew. Do not remind us our past. Not everyone commits a crime with the desire to live in shame afterwards. Many People do not understand this. And to my disappointment, People from the enforcement.
Reader’s contribution.
Source: SG Kay Poh
