Taxi Uncle Moves Woman to Tears with Kindness

Facebook user Ms Noor Mastura has taken to Facebook to praise Comfort taxi driver Mr Yeo Choon Hwa for his kindness towards her during a trip she took in his cab this week.

On Wednesday, 5 July, Ms Noor got into Mr Yeo’s taxi in the morning and asked him to rush to the airport so she could catch her 7.30am flight. Intending to quickly pay the taxi fare as soon as she reached the destination, Ms Noor reached for her wallet to prepare payment halfway on the journey.

This is when she realised that she had left her wallet at home.

Turning back home would cause her to miss her flight and so a frantic Ms Noor told Mr Yeo what had happened. They were about 12 minutes away from the airport at this point.

To her utmost surprise, Mr Yeo looked at her through the rearview mirror, kindly smiled and asked her what she would like to do.

“What I would like to do!? This was his taxi, his rice bowl and he had every right to tell me to get out from his taxi or turn back – but yes – he asked me what I would like to do.

“So I told him, that if he is ok – I’ll take down his details and do a bank transfer when I touch down. 

“And without skipping a beat, he agreed.”

As they reached the airport, Mr Yeo helped Ms Noor with her luggage before asking her whether she had enough money for her travels and whether she needed some money.

Ms Noor said that she cried and still cries when she thinks about Mr Yeo’s kindness.

She promptly transferred his taxi fare and a bonus to Mr Yeo, adding on her Facebook page that, “I don’t think any amount can ever repay what he did.”

Ms Noor also left a compliment for Mr Yeo to taxi operator Comfort DelGro. A customer service officer responded to her feedback that Mr Yeo has made them proud and that they will commend him and recognize him for his exceptional service.

Read Ms Noor’s account in full here:

Today I was shown kindness by a Comfort taxi driver – Mr Yeo Choon Hwa.

I had to report for my flight at 730am. I booked a taxi and when I got into the cab, I told the Uncle (yes we call any elderly male stranger Uncle in Singapore) to ‘please rush for me?’

Which is highly unfair because now I am partly making it his responsibility to get me to work in time… but I was that desperate.

Halfway through the journey – I started reaching out for my wallet so that I can quickly pay him and get out.

As the search got more frantic, I realised the worst. I forgot my wallet. I couldn’t believe it. I was now 12 minutes away from the airport. There was NO WAY out. Turning back will mean a day of havoc for me.

Resigning to my fate, I came clean with Uncle. I told him I forgot my wallet and I wouldn’t be able to pay him at the end of this journey. 

He looked up at me through the rear view and gave the most stunning reaction.

He smiled. Kindly. And then asked me what I would like to do. What I would like to do!? This was his taxi, his rice bowl and he had every right to tell me to get out from his taxi or turn back – but yes – he asked me what I would like to do.

So I told him, that if he is ok – I’ll take down his details and do a bank transfer when I touch down. And without skipping a beat, he agreed.

I got to the airport just in time. Uncle even came out and helped me with my bags and just before I dashed off – he asked me if I had enough money for my travels and if I needed some.

Yeah. Crybaby moment for me. Still is.

Even after transferring the amount + bonus, I don’t think any amount can ever repay what he did.

Apart from his compassion and kindness, he completely left it to his faith in humanity that I will not go back on my word. 

And I can’t help but think, what a lot of faith that must be.

Here’s to all our Taxi Uncles.