A photo showing a young child relieving himself at a food court in Tiong Bahru Plaza has sparked a heated debate among netizens. Shared on Facebook by Liz Lun on April 16, the image shows a boy pulling up his shirt while urinating next to a bowl of ice kachang, with an elderly woman assisting him. Many viewers were appalled by the public nature of the act, questioning why the child couldn’t wait until they reached the nearby toilet.
One comment pointed out that a public restroom was just a minute away, suggesting that the elderly woman, presumably the child’s caretaker, should have taken the child there instead of letting him urinate in such a public space. Others agreed, noting that societal norms have changed, and such actions may not be acceptable today.
However, there were also defenders of the caretaker, pointing out that the child may have urgently needed to go and that the woman might have had no choice but to act quickly. Some commenters even speculated that she chose to allow the child to relieve himself to avoid losing their already paid-for dessert.
One netizen also suggested that while it may have been an emergency, the caretaker could have been more mindful of the child’s positioning, such as letting him stand on the floor instead of on the chair.
This incident is similar to one that occurred in August last year, when a mother was caught allowing her child to defecate openly at a Bukit Panjang playground. The ongoing debate underscores the differing perspectives on public behavior and the responsibilities of caretakers in such situations.