He gets off bus, crosses road and helps her board his bus
Despite having passengers onboard, SBS bus driver Mohamad Farif did not hesitate to get off and help an old woman cross the road.
Mr Farif, 27, who operates bus service 3, was driving along Tampines Street 21 towards Tampines Bus Interchange when he stopped at the bus stop opposite Block 237 to drop off passengers.
As he was about to drive off, he noticed in his right side-view mirror that there was an old woman trying to cross the road.
Noticing that the cars were not giving way to her, he checked the bus to see if it was crowded before getting off to help.
"I really wanted to help her, but I also wanted to make sure that I wasn't troubling too many of my passengers if I did," said Mr Farif, whose official designation is bus captain.
TRAFFIC JAM
"So when I saw that it was quite empty, I rushed over to help the old lady."
Once he crossed the road and reached her, Mr Farif discovered that she wanted to go to Tampines Bus Interchange so she could take another bus to the hospital.
Realising she could take his bus, Mr Farif helped her across the road and onto his bus.
He recalled creating a jam as traffic was quite heavy.
"Even though it was crowded, none of the drivers sounded their horns at me or scolded me.
"None of the passengers on the bus scolded me or told me off too, they seemed really surprised."
Mr Farif apologised to his passengers before continuing the journey.
After parking his bus at the interchange, he continued his good deed and walked her to the waiting area for her next bus.
When he returned, he noticed that there was a middle-aged man who had waited for him in the bus.
"He came up to me and told me I did a good job, then shook my hand and left," Mr Farif recalled.
"I have never felt so touched in my life."
The Malaysian national started work with SBS in April this year.
Having worked as a lorry driver for the past five years in Johor, Mr Farif decided to work in Singapore to earn more money to support his mother.
When asked if he feared losing his first job in Singapore for keeping his passengers waiting, Mr Farif said he would do it again if he had to.
"I wasn't worried because at the time, I wanted only to help her, and if doing so meant I was fired, then so be it.
"I kept thinking if that lady was my mother, I would want someone to help her."
"We are very proud of bus captain Mohamad Farif who went beyond the call of duty. His kindness and compassion is heartwarming."
– Spokesman for SBS Transit
Viral post
SBS bus driver Mohamad Farif's gesture was photographed and posted on Facebook by user Nirna Sarnin, who was a passenger on the bus.
She was impressed by his deed and posted in her note that she felt proud to witness such a simple human act of kindness.
It has been shared 4,805 times and also appeared on popular local satire website SGAG and on Stomp, where it garnered 7,681 views.
Get The New Paper on your phone with the free TNP app. Download from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store now
