Goh Meng Seng apologises after mistaking volunteer group at Sheng Siong for hoarders

Two days before the implementation of a month-long circuit breaker on Tuesday (April 7), a group of shoppers at Sheng Siong West Coast was spotted pushing seven shopping trolleys filled with groceries.

With the recent introduction of purchase limits to prevent people from hoarding during the Covid-19 pandemic, the sight of the trolleys was more than enough to make heads turn.

Irked by photos of the group's actions, People's Power Party's secretary-general Goh Meng Seng took to Facebook on April 6 to criticise them.

"Nobody stopped them or even confronted them," Goh wrote. "Typical Singaporeans do not dare to voice out in public, only stood there with their staring. (sic)"

[embed]https://www.facebook.com/gohmengseng.freedom/posts/10219945500601058[/embed]

But he spoke too soon.

It turned out that the shoppers were not hoarders, but good Samaritans helping to distribute food to the needy.

Though the group had explained their actions to other shoppers present, it wasn't enough to placate Goh.

"Even if that is true, this is a very sensitive period and such purchase will either create more panic buy (sic) or misunderstanding resulting in anger."

He suggested giving cash or vouchers to needy families to make their own purchases instead.

Zilah Bidin, the lady in the photos, was later revealed to be part of a team of volunteers that is helping the elderly with limited mobility and needy families in Ghim Moh to purchase their groceries. They are also distributing food to Malaysian workers stranded in Singapore.

[embed]https://www.facebook.com/bob.rizuan/posts/10157798940407535[/embed]

While Sheng Siong did impose limits on how many items a person could purchase at a time, the group had gotten the manager's permission to buy groceries in bulk, wrote another volunteer, Bob Rizuan.

They were doing charity out of their own free will too, with the help of donations from other Singaporeans.

[embed]https://www.facebook.com/bob.rizuan/posts/10157802625177535[/embed]

When the truth came to light, Goh apologised for his words.

"I am sorry for any negative feelings or comments against her resulting from the posting," he said as he updated his original post.

However, he maintained that given the current situation, there are other ways to be charitable "without causing unnecessary alarm", much to the annoyance of netizens.

On the bright side, Goh's post put the charitable cause under the spotlight, and led more people to donate and volunteer with the group, for which Rizuan was very grateful.

[embed]https://www.facebook.com/bob.rizuan/posts/10157803228597535[/embed]

"It was indeed a blessing in disguise," he said.

rainercheung@asiaone.com