From dodgy pony rides to entitled behavior, this Ramadan has been quite a handful, huh? Here’s another incident to add to the list.
Facebook user Farah Nadya on Sunday shared an unpleasant encounter at the Fairprice supermarket at Our Tampines Hub.
Farah, a Muslim, was with her husband doing groceries when they came across a stand set up by the supermarket with a table stocked with canned drinks, packets of dates and fudge bars.
There was also signage inviting Muslims customers shopping to break their fast there if needed.
This is part of a Ramadan initiative in 60 Fairprice outlets which caters to Muslim shoppers where refreshments are set up 30 minutes before break fast.
“So as Jahabar stood there to read the stand-board message, one of the Fairprice staff approached Jahabar and repulsively mentioned, “Not for INDIA, not for India”,” Farah wrote, referring to her husband, Jahabar.
What started as acknowledging a nice gesture by the supermarket to give out free small snacks to Muslims to break their fast quickly turned into a rude experience.
Farah said the staff member kept repeating that it was “not for India” and tried to shoo them away, thinking that they were there for the freebies.
Jahabar had even tried to explain calmly to the staff that Muslim people encompass more than just Malays and that Indians can be Muslims too.
Instead of an apology or some understanding, the staff replied, “I don’t know. I no education, the top people tell me to say like this. I don’t know. Just go away.”
In her post, Farah tagged the supermarket and expressed her disappointment ending the post with the line, “Come on Fairprice SG… This is 2023. I’m sure we can do better!”
Fairprice apology
Since the post on Apr. 9 by Farah, Fairprice has responded stating that they “take the matter seriously and would like to apologize for the incident”.
They added that the staff person has been counselled and they have personally contacted and engaged with the couple to clear the matter.
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