Disclaimer: This is not a racist post. I have no intention of sowing discord between the races/generation of Singapore or even the World. Neither am I part of any organisation that promotes racial/age-group disharmony. Below is simply a true account of my own experience and is only a one-off thing (i hope) and I am not implying this applies to every person of the below-mentioned race/age-group.

I was at the MRT station one day.. a couple days ago I think.. and I saw on the screen that you can find in any MRT station in Singapore, informing you of the time of the next train's arrival. It read 6mins.

Great! Enough time for a top-up. There was less than a dollar value in my card so why not? Unfortunately, the only two machine available were occupied - one under repair, the other in use by a malay family of 4. And as expected, I wanted a rather long time for them because there were 4 cards to top up.

5mins.. 4mins..

Suddenly, this middle-age malay woman appeared beside me! It was obvious that I was in the queue. And she just stood right beside me! Not only that, she kept inching forward, closer and closer to the top-up machine. Being the typical (unkiasu) youth that I am, I did not edge forward like she did though I was in a rush to get to my tuition venue.

3mins.. 2 mins..

The next few things that happened were simultaneous. The family moved off. The malay woman rushed forward with her card in her hand, outstretched. Pissed, I tapped her on the shoulder before she could slot in her card. I said:

"I think I came first."

She shot me an unabashed look and actually had the audacity to say "okay but be quick!"

Madam, we are living in a civilised world. I had to wait a long time for my turn and it is only legitimate that you waited for yours too. Unfortunately for you, I am not a pushover that you probably always meet when you pull stints like this. But even if I am a pushover, you have no right to cut my queue or demand that I be quick with my transaction. Yes, you may ask, nicely. But I have no obligation to do what you wish of me...unless of course, you're barbaric.

I truly hope this kiasu/uncivilised trait of Singaporeans would improve soon or we might just deteriorate backwards into cavemen behaviours.