In case you read about this in tomorrow’s Straits Times, the incident with the SBS driver has snowballed beyond my original intentions.  This has never been about punishing the driver/captain, whatever.  I never asked to be abused.  I never asked to be the subject of public ridicule.  I was on my way to a client meeting yesterday morning when I took the wrong bus.

I alighted at Bedok Temporary Interchange.  I was late.  As I was walking to the MRT station, a bus driver/captain wearing SBS uniform shouted “Ah Kua” and adopted a woman’s gait as he “sashayed” past me.  His fellow bus drivers – all wearing SBS uniform – hooted and clapped.  I was stunned and I felt intimidated (one woman versus so many men intent on shaming her).  As I was late, I decided to press on and not confront them.  

But along the underground pass, I paused to reflect.  To walk away from bullies is not my style – unless they are wielding guns and knives.  Foolhardiness is also not my style. By the time I returned, the perpetrator was nowhere to be seen.  I took some photos and left.  

The business contact I was supposed to meet was annoyed with me.  He smsed me to say we agreed to meet at a certain time but I was late.  I explained that I had to settle a case of verbal abuse as a matter of principle.

Read the full story.