'I' m not looking for
sympathy'
Man who pushed woman off bus tells TNP that
he has clinical depression
REPORT: AMANDA PHUA
WALLOWING in self-pity or simply trying to tell his side of the
story?
While some netizens have reacted angrily to Mr Alex Ong's
various online posts on why he pushed an elderly woman off an SMART
bus at 3.15pm on Tuesday, he says he was trying to explain his
actions.
The New Paper reported yesterday that SMART bus service
number 167 was along Upper Thomson Road, before Thomson Plaza, when
Mr Ong got into a heated quarrel with the 76-year-old woman and
eventually pushed her out the rear door of the stationary bus.
A few passengers then stepped up to help the elderly
woman, who appeared unhurt, though visibly shaken.
Mr Ong later apologised to the woman.
He contacted TNP after the report to try to explain his
side of the story.
Referring to comments posted on video sharing site
YouTube, social networking sites Facebook and Tumblr, he said: "I
replied to some, but there are so many and some are very hurtful. I
feel like I'm going to explode already.
"It's so stressful. I know I have done something wrong
but I have already apologised. (By putting up the online posts), I
am not looking for sympathy.
"Now people are blaming me for everything."
He said he will be putting his blog on a month-long
hiatus to aloow things to blow over. His blog was still accessible
at 7pm. An hour later, the site asked for a password before
allowing access.
Mr Ong, who has been unemployed for more than six months,
claims to have been diagnosed with clinical depression since 2009,
and obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) and Asperger's syndrome
since he was in primary school.
He said he is now taking one type of tablet medication
daily for his depression and OCD only.
Mr Ong said he has not watched the video making its
rounds on social networking sites.
"I don't want to watch it. The contents are not making me
happy. It's unfair to judge based on what happened in the
video.
"Who can think rationally when angry? If you can find one
person who can (do so), I will give you all my money.
"I just wanted her physically out of the way to continue
my journey. I'm very sorry that she bruised herself."
He wrote on his online posts that he was feeling stressed
from his long unemployment and the difficulties he faced in
applying for a job. He told TNP he left his last job after two
months because he didn't like it.
"I am looking for jobs now, and I'm planning to reply to
an email about a job offer. But I don't know what they are thinking
of me now."
Growing up unhappy
Mr Ong said he dropped from Express stream in secondary school
to the Normal Academic stream, then went on to take his GCE O
levels as a private candidate.
He has plan to further his studies in a local arts
school, but has not done so because of financial problems.
He also claimed that his growing up years were unhappy,
leading to his depression.
Said Mr Ong: "I went to the police today over a
threatening comment. The guy sent it over a private message on
Facebook. He said he will punch my face if he sees me.
"That got me very worried. If it gets worse, I will file
a complaint with the magistrate court."
He apologised repeated over the 20-minute long
interview.
He said: "It was a somewhat bad day. I feel emotionally
annoyed at times.
"I'm not in contact with the lady, but I'm still worried
if she's okay, I didn't ask for her number and she didn't give it
to me either.
"I didn't know how to explain the past few days. I'm
emotionally unstable."
Police have classified the case as voluntarily causing
hurt and have called Mr Ong in for questioning.
He may face charges, depending on the outcome of ongoing
police investigations.
STRESSED: (Above)
Mr Ong is seen pushing the woman out of the bus in the video.
(Left) He defended himself in a Facebook post yesterday
afternoon.
Alex Ong 's Facebook :
Let me get some facts straight.
1. I have already apologised to the old lady, and she has
accepted my apology.
2. I am deeply remorseful over the whole incident, and I still
worry for her.
3. Everything was in a fit of angry; try telling me you can
think rationally when you are angry.
4. Try not to get pissed off at such minor matters when you have
been having emotional issues for weeks. When you are angry over
something, anything else that annoys you will get you angry as
well. Tell me you never experienced any of this.
5. Do any of you really, truly know what it is like to be in my
shoes? Really?
86 people likes this.
News, The New Paper, Friday, June 8 2012, Pg 4