Singapore – A group of sepak takrawโฃ players allege they were subjected to racial profiling and harassment by a woman while playingโ at a public โcourt in Holland-Bukit Panjang, prompting aโ police visit andโ an ongoing review by the town council.
Ms Adriana reported the incident occurred on Oct 26, when the woman confronted the group, allegedly threatening to call the police and making stereotyping remarks. “We โfelt this treatment was discriminatory,โค especially as we were playing at a reasonable hour and had permission from the town council,” Ms Adriana told The New Paper (TNP). She stated she contacted the police immediately after the confrontation, feelingโข the situation had escalated.
Police arrived around 5pm and instructedโ the group to cease โคplaying, stating the town council โwould โinvestigate. โThe group formally raised the issue with the Holland-Bukit Panjang Town Councilโฃ on Octโ 27 and are currently awaiting a response. “There wasn’t a need to be racially profiling peopel of โdifferent races in this situation,” Ms Adriana said.
The New Paper has contacted theโ Holland-Bukit Panjang Townโข Council for comment.
Thisโค is not the first reported incident involving the same woman.Ms Adriana โstated a friend was previously confronted in August for playing sepak takraw at the same court. The town council later clarified that signs posted were intended to prohibit pickleball, not sepak takraw, and asked the friend โฃto refrain from using the court โfor approximatelyโ one month. The group also played sepak takraw at a Marsiling badminton court in September,betweenโฃ 7pm and 9pm,without incident.
A social media post detailingโ the Oct โข26โฃ incident has gone viral, receiving over 82,400 views and 6,300 likes as of pressโ time. Numerous netizens have voiced support for the group, with oneโฃ commenter stating, “We pride ourselvesโ for our racial harmony. But ever so frequently, we hear these racistโ remarks being โขmade.” โOthers shared similar โexperiencesโฃ in other neighborhoods, including at a basketballโ court in Bukit Batok West Ave 6. Some residents highlighted โฃtheโค positive impact of suchโค games on community โฃlife, with one bedok North resident noting that similar sessions are “welcomed” and “add more โlife to an or else quiet neighbourhood.”