In a recent dining experience at AMK Hub, an elderly couple faced an unexpected confrontation with mall security, raising concerns about accessibility.
They were eating halfway when the mall’s security guard approached them and told them to move their Personal Mobility Aids (PMA) away, and park on level 1 instead of level 2, where they were eating.
As the result, the elderly couple were unable to finish their meal and decided to “dapao” their food to eat at home instead because they were afraid of being fined.
Their son then took to social media to shed light on the incident.
The Dining Experience
Arriving at the second-floor restaurant at 3:20pm on Saturday (11 November), the family settled in for a meal, with the elderly parents carefully parking their mobility devices near the service counter.
Ensuring the devices didn’t obstruct pathways, the family proceeded to order, and their food was served around 3:45 PM.
However, their peaceful dining experience took an unexpected turn when a security guard entered the restaurant, inquiring about the ownership of the parked mobility devices.
The Confrontation
Insisting the devices be moved to the first floor, the security personnel disregarded the elderly couple’s explanation about their difficulties moving about.
Despite the food being served, the security personnel insisted on relocating the devices, even issuing a notice to the family.
Explaining the difficulty the elderly parents faced in navigating stairs, the family requested to finish their meal first. However, the security personnel remained firm.
The Notice and its Impact
The notice left the elderly couple frightened, fearing potential fines and legal consequences. Terrified by the notice, the elderly couple abandoned their meal, choosing to leave the mall immediately.
Even restaurant staff, understanding the situation, urged the elderly couple to enjoy their meal slowly. However, the fear induced by the notice overpowered any desire to continue dining.
The fear of legal repercussions led the elderly couple to forgo their dining experience, taking their packed food home.
The restaurant staff, sympathetic to the situation, could only watch as the family hastily left.
A video uploaded on TikTok captured the emotional departure, emphasizing the challenges faced by elderly individuals with mobility issues.
@laihengong76 #singapore #singaporetiktok #amkhub #xinwanghongkongcafe #ageing ♬ original sound – 来兴旺