Sunday Funday Gone Wrong? The Tale of Bukit Batok’s Dancing Domestic Helpers
Every weekday morning, a surprising sight unfolded on Bukit Batok’s playgrounds: a group of domestic helpers, each carrying a charge (young kids and elderly folks alike), dancing the latest TikTok‑friendly dance‑moves.
Morning Madness
- Imagine the square where residents are used to seeing locals rubbing shoulders with the TikTok‑generation; it’s not a shock that some didn’t mind the shiny sneakers and neon glow.
- But the twist— these dancers were actually needed to look after their charges.
Photos snapped on April 10th by a Lianhe Wanbao reader show the helpers spinning left and right while two elderly men sat quietly in the “fitness corner.” Meanwhile a young boy was frolicking in the sandbox, but who— who was watching him? The concerned resident posted the images online, shouting, “If we’re dancing, we’re not being safe!”
Evening Party People
It’s not just the ugly mornings; in the evenings, the same cohort were spotted congregation by the playground’s wooden bench, swapping stories and munching on quick snacks. They’d even filmed TikTok clips once again, practically turning the park into a pop‑culture club.
The Toilet Tangle
Take the case of a resident who was exercising when he overheard a fellow domestic helper, attempting to toy with his claim, telling her elderly charge to “just endure” when the man needed a restroom break. The charge’s patience wore thin. He then had to be left at the playground, unable to wait any longer.
Siti’s Self‑Admission
- Enter Siti Nur— a 25‑year‑old domestic helper. She tapped into the Wanbao interview, confessing that she was wrong to let a dance rehearsal consume her attention while an 80‑year‑old man slept beside her.
- She explained, “When I’m on my way home from elder care, the grandpa sometimes likes to stay downstairs for a bit. So, I might as well exercise while I’m at it.”
She now vows to give the elderly man more caring attention, but the clock might have already struck. Her employer, uneasy about the mishandling, is on the lookout for a better replacement.
Final Word
One employer lamented, “I had noticed her negligence at various times, and I reminded her that she must watch out for my father, but I never imagined that she would betray our trust like this.”
Typical for a community facing the fine line between fun and responsibility. Let’s hope they bring back the balance sometime, and we can keep TikTok videos safe and the children and elders in check—maybe with a small “no dancing while dropping off the elderly” sign on the playground walls?
