Chinese man caught smoking claims racism, gets blasted online

A man who was caught smoking by two Indian National Environment Agency (NEA) officers and then claimed the duo had racist motivations, has been blasted online.

The incident is said to have taken place at Changi Airport Terminal 1.

In a two-minute clip filmed by the man, who isn't seen in the video, he says he is Chinese and that the officers were racist for penalising him while letting an Indian couple and an Indian man off for the same offence.

The officers, a man and a woman, do not respond to his accusations.

The female officer is on her mobile phone speaking with her supervisor, while the male officer speaks only to tell the man not to interrupt her while she is on the phone.

The man responds by saying that he is also on the phone and continues accusing them of being racist. He further claims they are refusing to follow him to the police station where he wants to lodge a report against them.

He also threatens to post the video on social media.

In a TikTok post, thomasong220 identifies himself as the man filming the clip, saying: "The court case mentioned is in Sep. I will definitely pay the fine but I will definitely challenge why they didn't take action on that Indian man and couple."

Commenters noted that the matter could be easily clarified with the officers' bodycam footage, while others like aHRoy did not seem convinced: "whatever the case is, you are still in the wrong for smoking in the wrong place, no?"

Eudaemonia added, "wrong is wrong, don't throw race card to make it right."

The video was also shared on the Singapore Incidents Facebook page on Aug 17 and had garnered more than 600,000 views, almost 6,000 reactions, and some 1,600 comments at press time. It was also shared on Reddit.

However, while some wondered why no action was taken against the other alleged offenders, most commenters did not side with the man and asked for proof of the supposed double standard.

"Just because someone gets away with a crime it doesn't (exempt) you from committing a crime. You got caught on the spot and now trying to talk your way out of it. Shame," said Niwde101 on Reddit.

Chan Kah Wai Vincent commented on Facebook: "1. You are caught, period. 2. If you got evidence that enforcement let off an Indian man and another couple, then there are channels which you can bring up to let justice prevail. 3. If not, you may be slapped with additional charges with your video. 4. Anyway, lots of cameras at Changi Airport."

"Everytime when you get caught for doing something wrong, you start creating another fairytale unfair story and take video. Do something wrong, just accept it, la," commented EssayInteresting8398 on Reddit.

Several Chinese commenters found the claim of racism embarassing.

"Changi got CCTV everywhere. Why you extra and say racist racist?! Siao. This is the type of Chinese that give us all a bad name. DISGRACE!" said the_sigma_snake on Reddit.

And of course, someone had to reference that infamous meme.

"Is it because I'm Chinese? No lah, it's because you're smoking," said MapleViolet on Reddit.

NEA: Investigations ongoing

In response to queries from TNP, NEA confirmed that the incident took place on Aug 13 at Changi Airport and was captured on the officers' body-worn cameras.

"Our enforcement officers witnessed a person smoking under a covered walkway near the pick-up point at Terminal 1, which is an offence under Section 3 (2) of the Smoking (Prohibition in Certain Places) Act," said an NEA spokesperson.

"Our officers proceeded to engage him by identifying themselves and informing him of the offence he had committed," the spokesperson added, noting the individual's unwillingness to cooperate in the process.

The incident has been reported to the police and investigations are ongoing.

Editor's note: This story has been updated with a statement from NEA and a TikTok post, as well as additional comments from the post.