A woman in Singapore who was fasting, shared how she was on the MRT from Clementi heading towards Bedok when she broke her fast at about 7+ inside the MRT.
She said that she took out a Snickers candy bar to break her fast, when a woman in her mid 30s started scolding her and telling her that eating in the MRT is illegal, as she pointed to a sign on the window.
The woman replied that she was fasting and it was mandatory for her to eat, and added that she was also too tired from work, but the fellow commuter would have none of it and continued scolding her.
Here is what she said
Hi, ! An incident happened today which was quite sad as I thought people would be more considerate and educated about certain things! I boarded the MRT around 6:30 at Clementi all the way to bedok. Long journey.
Importantly, we all know that now it is Ramadhan and the break fast time is around 7+! So , I had no choice but to break fast during my journey on the mrt as I had no luxury to get down at a station and eat out then get on board back.
So , today I decided to just have a candy bar (Snickers) on MRT at 7:11 which was the time to break fast. As I unwrapped the candy bar, a woman ,in her mid 30s, admonished that eating on MRT is illegal and, she pointed at the sign sticker on the window.
I replied that I was fasting and i had to eat as I was too tired from work and it is mandatory to eat eitherways . She just ignored whatever I explained and persisted that I save the candy and not eat there.
I just did as she told. After a few seconds and I restarted the conversation by questioning ,what if someone is low on sugar and they had to eat?… She just kept silent and still repeated that i should not eat on MRT.
I got down in Bedok and asked the MRT staff if it was permissible to consume finger snacks that are dry and those without aroma– he said it is totally permissible.
What I want to convey is that, please be considerate when someone is consuming candies or food that doesnt soil the place ,on public transport. You might not know how urgent it is for them. Especially muslims who are fasting.
If possible, if u see a muslim on board and it is time break fast, and they are not having anything, offer them if you have something!