Skip to main content
Home The New Paper
  • Home
  • News
    • Singapore
    • World
    • Business
    • Views
    • Backstage
    • Others
  • Sports
    • Football
    • Singapore Football
    • Team Singapore
    • School Sports
    • Athletics
    • Basketball
    • Cricket
    • Swimming
    • Tennis
    • Golf
    • Racing
    • Others
  • Entertainment
    • Movies
    • Music
    • TV
    • Star Style
    • School of Frock
  • Lifestyle
    • Makan
    • Hed Chef
    • Weets Eats
    • Health
    • Tech
    • Travel
    • Fashion
    • Shopping
    • Biker Boy
    • Celeb Chow
    • Others
  • Racing
  • Your Tip-Offs
  • Read E-Paper
  • Contests
  • Coupon
  • Team

Popular

  • COURT & CRIME
  • Food & Drink
Singapore

Minister meets and praises ‘Abang MRT’ at iftar

This article is more than 12 months old
Minister meets and praises ‘Abang MRT’ at iftar
ALL SMILES: Law Minister K. Shanmugam (in blue) with Mr Muhammed Hanafie and his girlfriend, Miss Nabilah Nasser, met over iftar yesterday.TNP 
PHOTO: CHOO CHWEE HUA
Minister meets and praises ‘Abang MRT’ at iftar
Mr Muhammed Hanafie

'Abang MRT' a bundle of nerves as he meets law minister

David Sun
Jul 16, 2015 06:00 am
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share on WhatsApp
  • E-mail this article
  • 0 Engagements

He bravely confronted and stopped a bully who was verbally abusing a teenager on an MRT train.

But yesterday evening, Mr Muhammad Hanafie was a nervous wreck as he stood in a corner of a room at Chong Pang Community Club, waiting for Law Minister K. Shanmugam to arrive.

"I'm nervous and feeling a little cold. I'm also shy. It's my first time meeting a minister and I'm just not used to all the media attention, I guess," he said, clutching his arm and shivering as his therapist girlfriend, Miss Nabilah Nasser, 23, looked on in amusement.

She had taken a video of the incident and uploaded it.

The incident happened on July 7 at about 10pm on the North-South Line, between Toa Payoh and Ang Mo Kio stations.

The video, which went viral after it was posted last Wednesday, shows a man insulting and threatening a teenager on an MRT train for wearing a T-shirt with an offensive word on it.

Transport Minister Khaw Boon Wan
Singapore

Khaw: More engineering hours needed

Nov 14, 2017

Related Stories

Man arrested for using criminal force on policeman at Lavender MRT station

LTA seeks vote for names of 3 upcoming Circle Line stations

Snippets

He is heard telling the teenager that he could beat him up and throw him off the train.

THE NEW PAPER, YESTERDAY

Mr Hanafie eventually stepped in, confronted the man and told him to stop his aggressive behaviour.

Both men got out of the train at Ang Mo Kio station, as instructed by the police. The video has since received more than 20,000 shares, with many condemning the actions of the bully.

Mr Shanmugam also weighed in, saying in a Facebook post that it was "unacceptable bullying conduct", while praising the commuter, referred to as "Elfy" in the video, who stepped in.

Yesterday at the community club, Mr Shanmugam met "Elfy" over iftar, the meal Muslims eat after fasting during the month of Ramadan.

The minister reiterated his praise to a shy Mr Hanafie, who was dubbed "Abang MRT" by those present.

"When I watched the video, I said: 'Look, we need to come out and affirm some types of conduct and also say that some things are not acceptable,'" Mr Shanmugam said.

"That was my main reason. The bullying was unacceptable, and what Elfy did made me feel proud, standing up to a bully. (And it was) also good to see that he was Singaporean.

"I have an iftar anyway with young students which I do every year, and the person who organises it for me decided to invite Elfy and Nabilah, who did the video."

Smiling throughout, Mr Hanafie looked visibly more relaxed once members of the media moved away.

FRIEND REQUESTS

Asked how life has changed for him since the video went viral, he said he had an influx of friend requests on Facebook.

"I have many more friends now. I have a thousand friend requests on Facebook," he added.

Mr Shanmugam had dinner and spoke with Mr Hanafie and his girlfriend at length for about two hours.

"I think it's good to affirm and support what Elfy did," said the minister.

"Hopefully that value then sets in, and more people get encouraged to stand up to bullies," he added.

Mr Hanafie, who is currently unemployed, said he looks forward to getting a job as a fitness instructor soon.

"I feel really blessed after all the support and affirmation given," he said.

"I look forward to the future and hope that others will also stand up when needed, just as I would if I have to again."

It's my first time meeting a minister and I'm just not used to all the media attention.

- Mr Muhammad Hanafie

Get The New Paper on your phone with the free TNP app. Download from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store now

mrtViral VideoK ShanmugamUncategorisedelfy

David Sun

davidsun@sph.com.sg
Read articles by David Sun
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share on WhatsApp
  • E-mail this article
  • Newslink -  Purchase this article for republication

Top Stories this Month

ICA officers find contraband cigarettes in God of Fortune figurines
Singapore

Thousands of duty unpaid cigarettes found in CNY figurines on lorry: ICA

Jan 18, 2021
Family of girl raped, killed in 1995 appeal for help with case
Singapore

Family of girl raped, killed in 1995 appeal for help with case

Jan 11, 2021
Covid-19 vaccination centres to be opened soon
Singapore

Singapore set to open Covid-19 vaccination centres

Jan 12, 2021
Home
  • Contests
  • Coupon
  • Team
  • Home
  • News
    • Singapore
    • World
    • Business
    • Views
    • Backstage
    • Others
  • Sports
    • Football
    • Singapore Football
    • Team Singapore
    • School Sports
    • Athletics
    • Basketball
    • Cricket
    • Swimming
    • Tennis
    • Golf
    • Racing
    • Others
  • Entertainment
    • Movies
    • Music
    • TV
    • Star Style
    • School of Frock
  • Lifestyle
    • Makan
    • Hed Chef
    • Weets Eats
    • Health
    • Tech
    • Travel
    • Fashion
    • Shopping
    • Biker Boy
    • Celeb Chow
    • Others
  • Racing
  • Your Tip-Offs
  • Read E-Paper
  • Contact TNP
  • About SPH
  • Privacy Statement
  • Data Protection Policy
  • Member Terms & Conditions
  • Website Terms & Conditions
SPH Digital News Copyright © 2021 Singapore Press Holdings Ltd. Co. Regn No. 198402868E