10-9-2024 (SINGAPORE) What should have been a moment of celebration turned sour as two adults reportedly jeered and made offensive gestures towards young participants. The incident, which occurred during the award ceremony of the National Chinese Creative Reading Competition, has left parents and organisers alike in disbelief.
The competition, held on 6 September at the Woodlands Regional Library, was a collaborative effort between the Popular Bookstore chain and the National Library Board. The event, which saw participants ranging from preschoolers to upper primary students, was meant to encourage and celebrate reading skills among young learners.
According to reports from the Shin Min Daily News, the disturbing behaviour unfolded during the prize-giving ceremony for the Primary 4 to 6 category. With approximately 200 parents and 80 children in attendance, the atmosphere was initially jubilant as the top five finalists were honoured.
However, the celebratory mood was shattered when two women, believed to be mothers of participants, allegedly began booing and making derogatory hand gestures towards children as they received their awards. Eyewitnesses claim the women gave thumbs-down signs, made cross gestures with their hands, and even raised their middle fingers at the young recipients on stage.
One parent, who wished to remain anonymous, told Shin Min Daily News: “My children and other parents said that the two of them had raised their middle fingers to those on stage. The children who were subjected to the women’s jeers while on stage were taken aback and looked despondent after receiving their prize.”
The parent added that some children were on the verge of tears and required comforting from their parents. The incident has left many attendees outraged, with some considering lodging formal complaints or even contacting the police.
Particularly concerning was the duration of the inappropriate behaviour, which reportedly lasted for nearly a minute. When confronted by nearby parents, the women allegedly dismissed concerns, telling others to “mind your own business”.
The Shin Min Daily News obtained video footage of the incident, which shows the women whispering to each other and making various hand gestures as participants received their prizes. At one point, they even stood up, obstructing the view of those behind them who were trying to record the ceremony.
In response to the incident, a spokesperson for Popular confirmed that a complaint had been lodged and that an investigation is underway. The spokesperson emphasised that the competition was not affiliated with any private entities and that Popular does not operate enrichment institutions.
