Singapore supermarket apologises for shooing off Indian Muslim couple from tasting free Ramzan snack
Singapore: A leading supermarket has apologised after stopping an Indian-origin Muslim couple from tasting its complimentary snacks provided during Ramzan, saying that those were only for Malays, according to a media report.
Jahabar Shalih, 36, and his wife Farah Nadya, 35, said a male employee at the supermarket run by the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) on April 9 “shooed” them away from the snack stand when they were doing their usual grocery shopping with their two young children, Channel News Asia reported on Monday.
While Jahabar is Indian, his wife Farah is Indian-Malay.
Farah had on Sunday recounted the "distasteful" encounter in a Facebook post, which has garnered more than 500 reactions.
Jahabar told the Channel on Monday that he had decided to check out the ‘Iftar Bites station' in the supermarket after his wife alerted him to the initiative.
FairPrice Group rolled out its Iftar Bites station on March 23, offering complimentary beverages with snacks or dates at 60 of its outlets to Muslim customers during the month-long Ramzan period.
As part of the initiative, Muslim customers are given refreshments, such as canned drinks, 30 minutes before and after Iftar, and the meal taken after evening prayers during Ramzan.
These are placed on tables in the supermarkets, with a sign to Muslim shoppers to help themselves as they break their fast.
"I walked over just to read what was on the board because I thought it was generally a nice gesture by NTUC and it is. As I started reading it this staff from NTUC approached me and he told me 'no India' ... and I was like 'what'?," Jahabar said.
"He said 'No India, only Malay' and I was like 'that's strange'," he was further quoted as saying in the report.
When Jahabar asked the male employee what he meant, the man, who was not identified, only repeated that "Indians cannot take".
Jahabar then tried to explain that Muslims could come from the Indian community, and the staff member replied that he has received instructions from "people at the top".
"I just walked off, pretty frustrated, I continued shopping," he said, adding that his wife really felt that the incident should be brought up.
The FairPrice shop said it is aware of the post on social media, adding that it has engaged the couple "to address their concerns" and has closed the matter "amicably".
"We take this matter seriously and would like to apologise for the incident. We have since also counselled our employee accordingly.
"We would like to clarify that Iftar Packs are offered free of charge to all Muslim customers during the month-long Ramzan period," the supermarket was quoted as saying.
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FIR registered against nurse, doc, pvt hospital mgt after finger of infant partially severed
Bengaluru (PTI): A case was registered against the nurse, doctor and management of a private hospital here for alleged negligence after the finger of a six-month-old baby boy was partially severed during the discharge process, police said on Wednesday.
According to police, in his complaint, Vijay Kumar said that on February 19, he took his six-month-old child to a private hospital in Indiranagar here for consultation after he developed fever and cold. As per the doctor's advise, he was admitted for further treatment at about 10.57 am.
He was to be discharged at 3 pm on February 24 and accordingly, the hospital bill was paid while the discharge process was going on in the ward.
At the time of discharge, the nurse on duty removed the drip. While removing the dressing, she allegedly cut the tip of the little finger on the child's left hand. Due to this, the child suffered severe pain and injury, he alleged, as per the FIR.
"Immediately thereafter, the child was taken to the emergency ward, where dressing was done and a plaster was applied. Initially, the concerned staff informed us that it was not a major injury and that since the child is small, it would heal on its own. However, due to their negligence, my 6-month-old child sustained a serious injury to the little finger of his left hand, causing immense pain and damage," the FIR read.
Based on the complaint, a case was registered under section 125 (b) (act endangering life or personal safety of others) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita against the nurse, doctor and the management of the hospital and the matter is being investigated.
