SINGAPORE - ComfortDelGro has taken one of its taxi drivers to
task for mocking a man for his looks.
Singaporean actor and stuntman Hanz Medina, who also works as a
perfumer, told The Straits Times that he was heading for a martial
arts class and had hailed a taxi near Owen Street at around 2.20pm
last Friday (July 17).
But instead of allowing Mr Medina to board, the driver stared at
him before making a derogatory gesture with his hand (used in some
circles to indicate that a person was a transvestite) and drove
off.
That was not the end of the matter. The driver then made a
U-turn further down the road and drove his taxi slowly past Mr
Medina again while performing the same gesture.
"I'm used to people using such gestures on me due to my long
hair, small frame and feminine facial features," said Mr Medina,
who is in his 20s.
"But what really hit me hard was the fact that he took the
trouble to drive back and mock me again. I felt I had to speak
up."
He then filed a formal complaint with ComfortDelGro, which
responded with an apology and assurances that action had been taken
against the offending driver.
"In their line of work, our drivers are expected to convey
passengers without any element of stigmatism," wrote a customer
service officer in a letter seen by The Straits Times.
"At no time should the driver have ever flashed any derogatory
gesture at you. His personal beliefs should not interfere or worse
still, affect his ability to carry out his job effectively."
The officer added that the driver had been "rebuked for his
disgraceful actions" and the taxi operator had issued him with an
official warning for not picking up a passenger despite his taxi
being available for hire.
"We will now monitor him closely and any similar transgressions
committed by him can result in the termination of his hiring
contract with us," the letter said.
Mr Medina said he was very grateful for the company's reply.
"It's a very good example of excellent customer service and how
fellow human beings should treat each other," he said.
