A heated argument involving a man of Indian origin in Singapore’s lift lobby has done the rounds on social media lately. The video, as shared by an eyewitness via Facebook, showed a face-off that involved Suresh Vanaz, and he later spoke about what happened on TikTok as well.
The video is said to have started circulating after it was claimed that the scuffle started when Vanaz went to help a wheelchair bound man get into the elevator. However, Vanaz has clarified that the event occurred when he was accompanying his wheelchair-bound brother who was exiting the elevator; some people refused to budge and insulted him for trying to do so.
View this post on Instagram
As Vanaz himself narrates, tensions escalated when one person admonished him for knocking into someone while backing out of the lift. In the clip, Vanaz is seen breaking free from those holding him back, falling to the ground, and finally having a brief scuffle with a woman.
After the incident, Vanaz went to TikTok and tried to respond to the accusations made against him and countered the narrative portrayed in the viral video. He accused the original uploader of editing the footage to make him look like an aggressor. In his video message, he criticised the “keyboard warriors” online and called for fairness in sharing such clips.
“When the lift door opens, give way,” Vanaz urged, stressing the challenges faced by those assisting individuals with disabilities. He also emphasised the importance of empathy and patience in such situations.
The original post, which was posted on the Facebook group “Complaint Singapore,” has been taken down. Vanaz called on online users to be responsible and cautious when posting or sharing videos as such misrepresentation of facts may cause harm.
This incident has sparked a broader conversation in Singapore about civility, inclusivity, and the role of social media in shaping public perception.
