Construction worker squats on wet pavement to eat, doesn't want to dirty bench

SINGAPORE – A construction worker was spotted squatting on a wet pavement to eat his lunch because he did not want to dirty a bench at a bus stop.

The incident, which occurred on Saturday (April 23), was recorded by Facebook user Iko Pai Kia.

The user reportedly saw the construction worker squatting to eat on a pavement that was wet because of the heavy rain that had just stopped, and had asked him why did he not want to sit on the bench to have his lunch.

The worker had replied: “No abang (brother in Malay), I don’t want to dirty the seat”. 

Touched by this, Iko Pai Kia ended his post by praising the worker for having “such high regards for others even though it’s at the expense of his own comfort”. 

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This incident comes on the heels of Wisma Atria shopping mall banning construction workers from using its public toilets.

According to The Straits Times, the mall also “threatened (construction workers) with fines and expulsion if they disobey” these rules, which were stated on signs “outside the men’s toilets on five floors”.

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Workers are only allowed to use the toilet located on the fifth storey, at the carpark.

A spokesperson for YTK Starhill Global Reit, the company that manages Wisma said that these rules have been in effect since 2011.

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The Straits Times

prabukm@sph.com.sg