Employer should take action against man who threatened teen on MRT, says Shanmugam

Mr Shanmugam, who is also Minister for Foreign Affairs, also praised Elfy for standing up for the teenager. PHOTO: LIANHE ZAOBAO

SINGAPORE - The actions of an MRT commuter who threatened a teenager who was wearing an expletive-bearing t-shirt was an act of "unacceptable bullying", said Minister for Law K Shanmugam on Tuesday night.

Last week, a video of a man who started threatening a teenager, who reportedly wore a t-shirt which had the words 'I'm F--king Special', on an MRT train circulated widely on social media.

In the video, another man named Elfy stood up for the teenager and confronted the aggressor.

Yesterday, the Law Minister weighed in on the incident and called for the aggressor's employer to take action against him.

"Came across this video. Unacceptable bullying conduct. People like this are sick in their mind. And try and take it out on others. I hope his employer will take some action, against him - he brings his organisation into disrepute," Mr Shanmugam said in a Facebook post.

Mr Shanmugam, who is also Minister for Foreign Affairs, also praised Elfy for standing up for the teenager.

"Good to see someone, in this case Elfy standing up to this bully. His comments on the incident, that we are a multiracial society that should respect each other, are wise."

Mr Shanmugam linked to a report on Stomp that included Elfy's comments.

On his Facebook page, Elfy thanked those who supported his actions, saying: "To my all followers in Singapore, thank you for the support all have given to me.

"We are Singaporean born to live with multiracialism. So we grown up with multiracialism. ...Whoever is in trouble we come and help. who ever is successful we come and applaud. So this is how we live, love amongst each other."

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