A ride-hailing driver\u2019s sign, informing Chinese passengers that he would only speak Mandarin to them, has outraged netizens. <\/p>\n
In a 20-second video uploaded on April 7, TikTok creator @aliciatadah, also known as Ally, shows a peculiar sign<\/a> in Chinese attached to the back of the driver\u2019s seat. <\/p>\n \u201cChinese people, please speak Chinese. I don\u2019t speak English to Chinese people. Thank you!\u201d it reads.<\/p>\n Ally then asks her husband whether he understands the sign. Even though her husband says no, Ally added that he was \u201csad\u201d upon finding out what the sign meant. <\/p>\n The TikTok creator explained that her husband took Chinese Level (B), a simplified version of the subject which focuses on oral skills, before being sent overseas to study at the age of 13. As a result, he can only converse in basic Mandarin but \u201cstill can\u2019t reach much.\u201d <\/p>\n \u201cSlightly offended on behalf of all mixed-Chinese kids and Chinese friends who can\u2019t read or speak Mandarin,\u201d Ally wrote in the accompanying caption, wondering whether the sign was discriminatory. \u201cWhat happened to all Singaporeans conversing in basic English so we have racial harmony?\u201d<\/p>\n In a follow-up video<\/a> on April 8, Ally said they had booked the ride on the afternoon of April 5, from Kallang to their home. <\/p>\n She recalled greeting the uncle and checking the destination with him, but received a grunt in response. Assuming the driver simply quiet, she settled into the ride but saw the sign shortly after. <\/p>\n Sharing that her husband uses a Chinese name on the ride-hailing app, Ally questioned what treatment he might be in for if he had to converse with the driver. <\/p>\n Calling the move \u201cunnecessary\u201d, Ally also pointed out the irony in the driver having an English name on the app. <\/p>\n In the comments section of the original video, Grab Singapore acknowledged the incident and asked Ally to report the incident so the company could commence investigations. <\/p>\n \u201cThis behaviour does not reflect the inclusive environment we strive to provide,\u201d the Grab spokesperson wrote. <\/p>\n In response, Ally said that she had lodged a report and was awaiting updates. <\/p>\n Meanwhile, some netizens pointed out that many Chinese Singaporeans are unable to read Chinese or speak Mandarin. <\/p>\n Others also called out the driver\u2019s behaviour. \u201cEven though I can speak and read Chinese fluently, I shouldn\u2019t have to accommodate you, especially when Singapore\u2019s main language for communication is English,\u201d one TikTok user wrote.<\/p>\n Stomp has reached out to aliciatadah and Grab Singapore for comments.<\/p>\n Have something to say? Join in!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n See something interesting? Contribute<\/a> your story to us.<\/p>\n Explore more on these topics<\/p>\n<\/div>\nPassenger calls move \u201cunnecessary\u201d <\/h2>\n
Angered netizens call out driver<\/h2>\n
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