'You are Indian, you are stupid': Singapore Chinese cab driver abuses woman and child

A woman named Janelle Hoeden, aged 46, had an unsettling experience during a brief Tada car ride in Singapore on Saturday (September 23).

A Singaporean cab driver of Chinese descent was caught on video verbally mistreating Janelle and her daughter, wrongly assuming they were of Indian origin.

What

Janelle had taken this ride multiple times without any issues. However, this time, the driver allegedly made hurtful comments about her race.

Janelle, employed as a telemarketer, booked the Tada ride from her residence in Pasir Ris Drive 6 to her sister-in-law's house in Pasir Ris Street 12, around 2 pm.

• The woman, who has Eurasian heritage, recounted that the cab driver had remarked, "You are Indian, you are stupid."

• Hoeden was accompanied by her nine-year-old daughter during the incident, as reported by The Straits Times, a local newspaper.

The incident

• Janelle's initial interaction with the driver was limited to his offer to assist with her bags, which she declined since they were lightweight.
• The ride started without any problems. However, while talking to her child, the driver suddenly became agitated due to roadblocks caused by the construction of an upcoming MRT line.
• Janelle recalled, "He started shouting at me, saying that I gave him the wrong address and wrong directions." She added, "He said, 'You are Indian, you are stupid.'" It was at this point that she decided to start recording the conversation on her mobile phone, which grew increasingly heated.
• In the video, shared on her Facebook page and by TikTok user Rhiley26746, later picked up by the alternative news site Wake Up Singapore, the driver, a Chinese man, repeatedly insists that Janelle's daughter is shorter than 1.35 meters. Janelle responds, stating that her child is 1.37 meters tall. The driver then labels the girl as "very illegal."

The Land Transport Authority (LTA) website explains that in Singapore, all vehicles must have booster seats or child restraints for passengers under 1.35 meters tall for safety reasons.

Janelle told ST, "It seemed like he wanted a backup for his argument, that I had unlawfully taken this ride." She also noted that she is aware of the height restrictions for passengers in private-hire vehicles.

He then raised his voice at the woman, stating, "You are Indian(n), I'm Chinese...You are the very worst kind."

Janelle corrected the driver, informing him that she is Singaporean Eurasian.

Janelle reported the incident to Tada. "Whether I was tanned skin, or Indian, or otherwise, it's unacceptable what he said - it was totally uncalled for, that he pulled out the race card," she said.

In response to an Instagram post about the incident, the cab company stated that they are investigating the "matter."

A company spokesperson informed The Straits Times that they have initiated an "internal investigation to fully understand the circumstances."

The spokesperson also emphasized that Tada does not tolerate racist comments or remarks under any circumstances.