'You've got the wrong Kelvin Yip'
Published: Aug 13, 2014 10:27 AM | Updated: Aug 13, 2014 11:43 AM
A driving instructor in Singapore has reportedly claimed to have been mistaken for Kelvin Yip, who drew criticism after posting a complaint on loud prayers from a nearby mosque on Facebook .
A driving instructor in Singapore has reportedly claimed to have been mistaken for Kelvin Yip, who drew criticism after posting a complaint on loud prayers from a nearby mosque on Facebook.
The driving instructor - also shares the same name - said after the complaint went viral on social media, netizens began to circulate a picture of him and his girlfriend Jolene Koh as well.
“It is a case of mistaken identity and someone took my picture from my public Facebook page and spread it online…”
“I am still shocked by this because I have absolutely nothing to do with this incident,” AsiaOne quoted him as saying on Monday, reproducing an earlier report from the Singapore-based The New Paper.
The man claims he only realised he had been mistaken for another person when he received a profanity-laced Facebook message alongside a screenshot (left) of the offending comment on the morning of July 29.
The number of abusive messages grew steadily to 12 before he set his account to “private”. After that, 50 persons tried to add him to their “Friends” list in order to reach him.
In addition, he claimed that the experience has caused distress to his family and his girlfriend and left him shaken, especially since the couple’s photo was also published in Malaysian newspapers.
He added that he does not know why he has been singled out, although there are at least 50 persons sharing the same name on the social networking site.
Nevertheless, Yip said he has found support from friends, family, and his employer, who do not believe that he could have made racist comments.
“My employers also advised me to make a police report when they learnt of the incident. I also needed to make the report since I felt like a wanted man in Malaysia.
“This is distressing and I do not think I will cross the Causeway until my name is cleared,” Yip was quoted as saying.
The AsiaOne report also quoted a Yip’s co-worker Mohd Khirwan Mohd Khamin vouching for him.
“I have known him for five years and I have never known him to say anything even remotely racist.
“All of his football mates and motorcycle buddies are Malays, and all of us think he is a very nice guy who has been wrongly accused. We are standing behind him and hope his name will be cleared as soon as possible,” he reportedly said.
Singaporean police has confirmed that Yip has made a police report regarding the incident, the AsiaOne report said.
Previously, one Kelvin Yip posted a profanity-filled Facebook post complaining about the the volume of the prayers from a mosque at 6.45am one morning during the Hari Raya season.
He has subsequently deleted his post and apologised, and then deleted his Facebook account.
Deputy inspector-general of police Mohd Bakri Zinin had reportedly said that the police still don’t know much about him, and urged the public to come forward if they have information.
The driving instructor - also shares the same name - said after the complaint went viral on social media, netizens began to circulate a picture of him and his girlfriend Jolene Koh as well.
“It is a case of mistaken identity and someone took my picture from my public Facebook page and spread it online…”
“I am still shocked by this because I have absolutely nothing to do with this incident,” AsiaOne quoted him as saying on Monday, reproducing an earlier report from the Singapore-based The New Paper.
The man claims he only realised he had been mistaken for another person when he received a profanity-laced Facebook message alongside a screenshot (left) of the offending comment on the morning of July 29.The number of abusive messages grew steadily to 12 before he set his account to “private”. After that, 50 persons tried to add him to their “Friends” list in order to reach him.
In addition, he claimed that the experience has caused distress to his family and his girlfriend and left him shaken, especially since the couple’s photo was also published in Malaysian newspapers.
He added that he does not know why he has been singled out, although there are at least 50 persons sharing the same name on the social networking site.
Nevertheless, Yip said he has found support from friends, family, and his employer, who do not believe that he could have made racist comments.
“My employers also advised me to make a police report when they learnt of the incident. I also needed to make the report since I felt like a wanted man in Malaysia.
“This is distressing and I do not think I will cross the Causeway until my name is cleared,” Yip was quoted as saying.
The AsiaOne report also quoted a Yip’s co-worker Mohd Khirwan Mohd Khamin vouching for him.
“I have known him for five years and I have never known him to say anything even remotely racist.
“All of his football mates and motorcycle buddies are Malays, and all of us think he is a very nice guy who has been wrongly accused. We are standing behind him and hope his name will be cleared as soon as possible,” he reportedly said.
Singaporean police has confirmed that Yip has made a police report regarding the incident, the AsiaOne report said.
Previously, one Kelvin Yip posted a profanity-filled Facebook post complaining about the the volume of the prayers from a mosque at 6.45am one morning during the Hari Raya season.
He has subsequently deleted his post and apologised, and then deleted his Facebook account.
Deputy inspector-general of police Mohd Bakri Zinin had reportedly said that the police still don’t know much about him, and urged the public to come forward if they have information.
View Comments0