‘Never poorer for helping’: The first Singaporean high sheriff in Wales wants to make volunteerism a norm

“Growing up Malay in Singapore, I’ve had to deal with microagressions. I’d hear comments like: ‘If only more Malays are like you’ (whenever she did something well), or encounter people who held stereotypes about your community,” she said. 

In Wales, where Asians make up about 3 per cent of the population in Wales, and Muslims about 2 per cent, Mrs Williams has had to deal with more “in your face” racially-motivated hate. 

One incident happened while she was having lunch at a food court with her mother during her first few years of living there.

“Somebody came up to me, hit me on the back of my head, and then said: ‘May God be with you’, and laughed and ran off,” she recalled.

While the police were very supportive and prompt in helping her, they ultimately could not find the perpetrator who had fled immediately after attacking her.

Another incident occurred when she received Islamophobic comments in the guise of a joke. Ironically, the comment came from an IT support staff member helping her set up a laptop when she visited an organisation to give a talk about countering extremist views.

She said while she loves Singapore and being Singaporean, the culture in Wales has helped her deal with racism better. 

“Culturally, over here it’s not as hierarchical,” said Mrs Williams. “Over here you can offer challenge without being seen as being difficult or in a negative light. You can ask difficult questions, or even challenge politicians.”

So while she kept mum in Singapore whenever she faced racist remarks, when the IT staff member told her the inappropriate “joke”, she immediately told him off firmly. 

As for the incident at the food court, she immediately stood up and shouted at the person.

“My mum was there trying to calm me down, and I thought then that if I want to shout at someone (for doing something wrong against me), I should be allowed to,” she said, visibly animated and upset despite the incident happening almost 20 years ago. 

“Looking back, I think it’s a very Singaporean thing to try and calm things down, don’t shout, don’t rock the boat.”