Did he seek the animal permission before petting the head?

“We all got traumatised, isn’t it.”   🫳 Former S’pore president Halimah Yacob said she now thinks twice about patting children on the head.   She was reflecting on how society has become more fragmented & the need for intergenerational bonding in community spaces.   ➡️ https://bit.ly/3S2txxg   Follow us @mothershipsg   Here are the full details of both the Roxy Square incident and Halimah Yacob's remarks:       🔴 The Roxy Square Incident — Aug 15, 2026   When: Saturday, Aug 15, 2026, ~4.40pm Where: Coffee shop / food court at Roxy Square, 396 East Coast Road Victim: Mr Yeo Song Khoon, 73 — second-generation owner of Bei-Ing Wanton Noodle, a stall at the coffee shop for over 40 years Alleged perpetrator: A 40-year-old man, father of the young girl; identified by police and under investigation   What happened   - Mr Yeo had just finished work and was buying coffee. Walking past a table where a girl (about 2–3 years old) was seated with her mother, he found her adorable and gently patted her on the head — a gesture of friendliness and endearment. - The mother immediately pushed his hand away. The girl's father, who had been at the drinks stall, returned and confronted Mr Yeo angrily. - CCTV footage shows the father shoving Mr Yeo forcefully to the ground even as the elderly man tried to explain himself. - Mr Yeo has difficulty walking and uses tables for support; he suffered back pain and aggravated existing leg/hip injuries from the fall. - The father apologised shortly after the incident. Mr Yeo initially did not want to pursue the matter, but his family later lodged a police report and he went for a hospital check-up.   Status   - Police report lodged; investigations ongoing - Father identified as a 40-year-old man - The incident was captured on CCTV and went viral after being posted by the stall's family       🗣️ Halimah Yacob's Remarks — Aug 19, 2026   Where: Speech at the launch of two new active ageing centres in Tampines Context: Speaking about intergenerational bonding and how society has become fragmented   What she said   "Nowadays, it's a problem, you can't pat their heads also."   "I used to do that all the time, but now I have to constantly restrain myself. I'm very scared."   "We all got traumatised, isn't it."   "Patting children on the head is a sign of endearment, especially among older people. Society has become so fragmented, unfortunately."   Her point   She drew a direct link to the Roxy Square incident, noting that a gesture many seniors see simply as affection — patting a child's head — has now become something people fear doing. She expressed concern that society's growing unease over such casual interactions erodes warmth and connection across generations.

happy to not be in it