Shruti Suman
A cab driver in Singapore, who is of Chinese descent, is currently being investigated for verbally abusing a woman and her daughter during their ride. This incident stemmed from a misunderstanding regarding the destination and the driver’s assumption that the woman was of Indian heritage.
The victim, Janelle Hoeden, a 46-year-old of Eurasian origin, recounted the verbal abuse she endured from the cab driver on Saturday. According to her, the driver insulted her, stating, “You are Indian, you are stupid.”
During the ride, Hoeden was accompanied by her nine-year-old daughter. The Straits Times reported the incident on Sunday, noting that Hoeden recorded the escalating confrontation on her phone.
The journey initially began without incident, with Hoeden conversing with her child. However, tension arose when the driver became agitated due to roadblocks caused by the construction of an upcoming metro line in the Pasir Ris housing estate, along their route.
The driver began shouting at Hoeden, accusing her of providing the wrong address and directions. In a video of the incident uploaded to her Facebook page and shared by a TikTok user and alternative news site Wake Up Singapore, the driver, a Chinese man, repeatedly claimed that Hoeden’s daughter was shorter than 1.35 meters in height. Hoeden countered by asserting that her child was 1.37 meters tall. The driver then referred to the girl as “very illegal.”
It is believed that the driver was concerned about the safety of passengers who require child seats, as the Land Transport Authority (LTA) mandates that all vehicles in Singapore must have the facility of booster seats or child restraints for passengers under 1.35 meters in height.
While driving, the driver verbally attacked Hoeden, making derogatory comments based on her ethnicity. He stated, “You are Indian, I’m Chinese… You are the very worst kind…” Hoeden corrected him, clarifying that she was Singaporean Eurasian, not Indian. Eurasians often have tanned skin and may sometimes resemble individuals of Indian descent.
Hoeden, feeling threatened by the driver’s verbal abuse, instructed her daughter to record the incident. She emphasized that the driver’s use of racial discrimination was completely unacceptable and unwarranted.
Her child was also deeply affected by the incident. Tada Singapore, the ride-hailing platform through which Hoeden booked the ride, commented on Wake Up Singapore’s Instagram post about the incident, stating that they were investigating the matter. The comment reaffirmed Tada’s commitment to not tolerate racism, discrimination, or abuse and pledged to take appropriate action based on their investigation.
A Tada spokeswoman quoted by The Straits Times reiterated that remarks insinuating racial differences directly contravene Tada’s community guidelines and do not reflect the company’s values. Tada initiated an internal investigation to understand the circumstances fully and vowed to take necessary actions. The spokeswoman emphasized that Tada unequivocally disapproves of racist comments or remarks under any circumstances and is dedicated to swiftly and fairly addressing the issue.
