Isetan says sorry on behalf of security guard who shouted at female shopper

Shoppers walking past an Isetan store in Orchard Road. PHOTO: ST FILE

SINGAPORE - Isetan has issued an apology in response to an online video, which showed a security guard at one of its department stores raising his voice at a female shopper.

The Japanese department store chain, responding to a customer on its Facebook page, wrote: "We fully agree that the treatment of the young lady customer who was trying to enter the store during its closing time by the uniform security guard is totally unacceptable.

"We want to express our sincere apologies to her. We have brought this incident to the attention of our store's security management company, and we are investigating the matter.

"We do not condone such bad and improper service at Isetan."

The video, put up by All Singapore Stuff on July 5, attracted nearly 100,000 views and over 600 comments.

The young woman appeared to be trying to enter the store to buy something, but the guard - speaking in Mandarin - repeatedly insisted that it closed at 9.30pm.

He could also be heard shouting at her to "get out", and threatened to call the police at the end of the minute-long clip.

A male passer-by who saw the argument tried to step in and mediate, but was told off by the guard.

A large number of netizens defended the guard's actions, but suggested he could have used a milder and more respectful tone to speak to the shopper.

"Uncle is correct doing his job but perhaps the tone n his way of explaining is a bit harsh.." wrote Asmah Ahmad.

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