Man Attacks Security Guard at Tampines After He Was Told to Put on a Mask to Enter a Building

This week on “why do people do this”, we have a man who pummelled a security officer because he was told to put on a mask.

The incident happened at Tampines Retail Park on a Monday night (4 July).

What Happened?

In a media statement, the Security Association Singapore stated that the security officer Sures Perimal was on duty at the main entrance of Giant Hypermarket at Tampines Retail Park.

His duties included ensuring that people entered the building with masks worn as per the relevant safety management measures.

At around 10:20pm, he saw an unmasked man approaching the building.

As was expected of a security officer, Mr Sures approached the man and told him to put on a mask or buy one from the pharmacy at the entrance of the building.

However, the man was “unhappy” that the security officer called him out—for a rule that has been around since April 2020—and shouted some expletives at Mr Sures before he entered the building.

For some odd reason, the man rushes out of the building a short while later and pushes Mr Sures. While he pelted the security guard with shouted vulgarities, he shoved and punched Mr Sures as well.

Due to the attack, the security officer suffered from bruises and contusions.

It’s kind of inexplicable why the man would literally go out of his way to throttle the security guard when he already ignored his warning and entered the building anyway?

In the video provided by Security Association Singapore, the man is wearing a dark-coloured jacket, and he can be seen shoving and punching the security officer in front of her pedestrian crossing at the carpark.

Two members of the public immediately confronted the man once they witnessed the violence, and another staff member joins the security officer to check on him. 

After Channel News Asia made some inquiries to the police, they were told that a 57-year-old man was apprehended under the Mental Health Act.

The man will be investigated as well for voluntarily causing hurt to a security officer.

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Official Responses

The Singapore Police Force declared, “The Police takes a stern view towards any abusive behaviour against security officers who are carrying out their duties, and will take action against those who commit such offences.”

The Security Association Singapore probably describes the incident best, calling it an “unnecessarily senseless and violent act of abuse”.

They condemned the incident, insisting that society must have zero tolerance for any abuse of security officers.

After all, these security officers are charged with the responsibility of our safety, the least we could accord to them is cordiality and respect.

Raj Joshua Thomas, the Security Association Singapore’s President, deems this as another sickening incident of abuse, where a security officer is unfairly mistreated when he was merely carrying out his duties.

He ends off his statement by saying that the police are taking the reins on this case, and the association will leave it to the authorities to investigate and dole out the appropriate punishment.

The Union of Security Employees (USE) were similarly appalled by the incident, saying that officers deserve safe working conditions.

Back in December 2021, USE conducted an industry survey with Singapore University of Social Sciences, and found that 2 out of 5 security officers have been abused while they were carrying out their duties.

In this year alone, USE has already received 18 reports of abuse at their customer service centre through their mobile application.

In a separate Facebook post on Tuesday, NTUC Deputy Secretary-General Desmond Tan wrote, “There is no place for any form of abuse against our frontline officers who are performing their duties to keep us safe.”

He adds, “It is an all-of-society effort, let us all treat our security and all frontline officers the respect they deserve.”

Even during Mr Tan’s tenure as a Minister for Home Affairs, he has always stood by Singapore’s security officers with its association, and he promises to continue doing so as he works for the labour movement.

Mr Sures is under the security agency TwinRock. The Security Association Singapore and TwinRock will continue to provide assistance to Mr Sures.

The association also pledges to continue working with their tripartite partners to combat abuse of security offers, as well as raising awareness of the severe penalties for such offences. 

If you happen to stumble across any instances of abuse of security officers, please contact NTUC through their official application or e-mail [email protected].

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Featured Images: YouTube (CNA)