Meet one of S'pore's top cabbies - Commended 200 times in 12 years

Mr Anthony Chee once returned a lost wallet to his passenger, who gave him a $100 hongbao, and $50 for the trip that cost $20. Picture by: HEDY KHOO

The Electric New Paper :
WHILE other cabbies grumble about the impending rule to restrict taxis from stopping indiscriminately in the CBD area, he thinks it's a good idea.
By Hedy Khoo
01 December 2007

WHILE other cabbies grumble about the impending rule to restrict taxis from stopping indiscriminately in the CBD area, he thinks it's a good idea.

Cabby Anthony Chee, 46, said: 'It's safer for both passengers and taxi drivers. It's dangerous to pick up passengers along bus lanes anyway.

'The LTA has also built more taxi stands, so it's more convenient for the passengers.'

And it's precisely this positive attitude that makes him one of the most commended of the 32,000 cabbies in Singapore's largest taxi fleet, the ComfortDelGro group.

Mr Chee, who was recently nominated for ComfortDelGro's Excellent Service Awards, has received 200 commendations from the public in his 12 years as a cabby.

Mr Chee says his mantra in life is to always remain upbeat and positive.

It seems almost nothing can faze him on the road.

Not even one memorable trip two years ago when he had to rush to hospital a pregnant woman who was on the verge of giving birth.

'Her husband was very anxious. I told them, 'Don't worry, I will try my best to go as fast as possible, but safety is important too',' recalled Mr Chee.

He managed to get her to the hospital and was so caught up getting her a wheelchair and making sure she was all right that he forgot to charge them the booking fee, he said with a chuckle.

'But I was so happy I could get them to the hospital on time,' he said.

Two years ago, a passenger, who took his taxi from her home in Faber Crescent to her workplace in Jurong, left her wallet with her identity card and credit cards in his taxi.

Mr Chee, who later found the wallet, said: 'I couldn't find her at her workplace, so I drove back to her condominium and asked the security guard to get her to call me.'

Mr Chee then handed the wallet to the ComfortDelGro office.

LOST AND FOUND

The next day the woman called him, and he informed her that he had submitted her wallet to the office.

He then went to her condominium and took her to the ComfortDelGro office at Braddell to collect her wallet.

The woman was so grateful that she paid him $50 for his fare of about $20, and refused to accept the change.

As it was near the Chinese New Year period, she even gave him a hongbao.

'She wouldn't take it back, and later when I went home, I was surprised to find that she had given me $100 in the hongbao,' said Mr Chee.

'I felt very touched that she appreciated my help, but actually she didn't have to do that, as it is part of our jobs as taxi drivers to be honest and provide good service to our passengers.'