A woman was caught on video spitting water at fellow passengers and onto the floor while travelling on a Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) train along Singapore’s North-South Line, sparking widespread public discussion online about public behaviour, mental health awareness, and transport regulations.
The incident took place on January 23 and was captured in a short video that later surfaced on Instagram. In the footage, the woman can be seen repeatedly taking gulps of water from a bottle before spitting it out in the direction of nearby commuters. Some of the water landed on passengers, while other splashes hit the train floor.
Passengers standing close to her appeared visibly uncomfortable, flinching or moving away as the situation unfolded. It was not clear from the video what triggered her actions, and there were no visible signs of provocation from the other commuters present.
Confrontation by Fellow Commuter Ends Incident
The situation escalated when a commuter dressed in a purple outfit confronted the woman directly. In the video, the commuter attempted to snatch the bottle away while shouting at her, questioning why she was behaving in such a manner. The woman resisted physically but did not respond verbally.
The commuter pointed out that no one had offended her and suggested that this might not have been the first time such behaviour had occurred. She also removed her glasses, which appeared to have been splashed with water, and reminded the woman that consuming drinks on MRT trains is prohibited under public transport rules.
Following the confrontation, the woman stopped spitting water and stood silently for the remainder of the clip. Screens visible in the background suggested that the train was near Bukit Gombak station at the time of the incident.
Online Speculation and Mental Health Discussions
After the video circulated, online discussions quickly turned towards the woman’s possible mental health condition. Several social media users claimed that she had been identified as a client of a local charity that supports individuals with mental health challenges in reintegrating into society.
She was reportedly featured in a CNA segment last year in conjunction with World Mental Health Day. According to those reports, she is on the autism spectrum and was diagnosed with anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder at the age of 17. These claims, however, have not been officially confirmed by authorities.
The incident has reignited debate in Singapore about balancing compassion for individuals with mental health conditions while maintaining public hygiene, safety, and commuter comfort on public transport.
Spitting in Public Is an Offence in Singapore
Under Singapore law, spitting in public places is illegal. The Environmental Public Health (Public Cleansing) Regulations prohibit spitting or expelling mucus onto streets, floors, or any area accessible to the public, including MRT trains and stations.
First-time offenders may face fines of up to S$1,000, while repeat offences can attract penalties of up to S$2,000. These rules are part of Singapore’s broader public health and cleanliness enforcement framework, which is strictly applied in shared spaces such as public transport.
At the time of writing, both SMRT and the Singapore Police Force have been contacted for comments on the incident. No official statements have been released regarding whether any enforcement action was taken.
As the video continues to circulate, the episode serves as a reminder of the importance of considerate behaviour on public transport, while also highlighting the ongoing conversation around mental health support in densely populated urban environments.