SINGAPORE - Years ago, Mr Choy Kok Kee often called on passers-by to hold onto his mother’s wheelchair as he helped her into taxis.

The duo also found it hard to flag down cabs, as some drivers would shun them as soon as they saw the wheelchair.

That was until the 60-year-old former polytechnic lecturer and his mother were picked up by ComfortDelGro taxi driver Chua Poh San in 2019.

After that trip, Mr Choy could turn to the cabby to get around with his aged mother, until her death in May 2023 at the age of 86.

Mr Chua, 62, was one of 36 recipients of the Transport Gold Outstanding Award given out on Dec 12 by the Singapore Kindness Movement (SKM) and Land Transport Authority to transport staff who have gone the extra mile to help others.

The award is in its 24th year.

Another 972 staff were given the Transport Gold Commendation Award.

The recipients were chosen after a nomination and selection process that involved their peers, supervisors and a panel of representatives from the authorities and SKM.

When Mr Chua first picked up Mr Choy and his mother in October 2019 from their Pioneer flat, he helped to fold and secure the wheelchair in the boot before driving them to Ng Teng Fong General Hospital in Jurong East.

Mr Choy said: “I was very surprised, as previous drivers didn’t help us. He bothered to help us and was very careful when doing so. He made sure that my mum and I were good to go before driving off.”

The duo exchanged phone numbers during the ride.

When Mr Choy’s mother died in May, he asked Mr Chua to drive him to Mandai Crematorium to retrieve his mother’s ashes.

Mr Chua, who has been driving a taxi for more than 10 years, went the extra mile.

Instead of just taking Mr Choy there, the cabby also drove him to Changi so he could scatter the ashes at sea, and waited for the process to be completed without charging waiting fees.

The pair had lunch before Mr Chua drove Mr Choy home. Mr Choy was so moved by Mr Chua’s kindness that he wrote to ComfortDelGro to commend him.

Mr Chua said: “I tried to do my best and accompanied him along the way, so that he felt more comfortable and knew someone was by his side.”

A ComfortDelGro spokesperson said Mr Chua was an inspiration to all in the company.

Acts of kindness also led Mr Yasin Yusoff, SMRT’s station manager in Joo Koon, to get the Outstanding Award.

While waiting for the train home in September 2022 after his shift at 11pm, the 32-year-old noticed an elderly commuter in a wheelchair about to doze off on the platform. Concerned, the SMRT employee asked the man where he was heading.

Mr Yasin learnt that the commuter was going to Ng Teng Fong General Hospital and needed to alight at Jurong East station.

As it was late, he accompanied the man to Jurong East, even though it was out of the way for the Boon Lay resident.

En route, the commuter told him it had been a while since he had ice cream. Mr Yasin not only accompanied the commuter out of Jurong East station but bought him an ice cream from a nearby McDonald’s outlet. He also ensured that the commuter was safely on his way to the hospital before leaving.

Mr Yasin, who has worked at SMRT for nearly five years, said: “When I see someone who needs help, my first reaction would be just to help them, as I know they cannot help themselves in a way due to their condition.”

Mr Chua and Mr Yasin each received more than two written public commendations for their acts of kindness, a requirement to be eligible for the Transport Gold Award. Their respective companies nominated them for the Outstanding Award.

SMRT group chief executive Ngien Hoon Ping said: “We are proud of all our colleagues who were recognised for their exemplary service.”

Speaking at the award ceremony, Acting Transport Minister Chee Hong Tat said a caring culture will encourage more acts of kindness.

“When we go the extra mile to help, we make a difference to those who receive our kindness. This inspires them to pay it forward and be kind to other people,” he added.