 |
| Star Search Finalist Gini Chang Calls Out Harasser on Public Bus, Urges Women to Speak Up |
Mediacorp actress Gini Chang Hio Cheng, best known as a Star Search 2019 finalist, has opened up about a troubling encounter on a public bus that left her furious and shaken.
The 31-year-old Macanese actress, who’s based in Singapore, took to Instagram last week to share her experience, stating firmly:
“If you don’t control your hands, or at least your brain, sooner or later you will have to take responsibility for your actions.”
In a rare emotional post, Gini admitted,
“You may have never seen me like this because I’m really angry. Just now, on the bus, I encountered a ‘handsy’ person.”
What Happened on the Bus
Switching between Mandarin and Cantonese, Gini recalled that a middle-aged man initially sat opposite her.
When a seat next to her became available, he moved over deliberately — and that’s when things got uncomfortable.
“He placed his hands on the edge of the seat, and I suddenly felt his arm brushing against my thigh,” she explained.
At first, she thought it might’ve been an accident or perhaps she was sitting too close to the edge.
But when the same thing happened again, she realised it wasn’t.
“I moved my bag onto my lap immediately. Only then did he withdraw his hand, pick up his things, and get off the bus,” she said.
 |
“He Was Testing to See If I’d Resist”
Reflecting on the incident, Gini said that a normal person would instinctively apologise or move away if accidental contact happened.
Instead, the man repeated his actions, convincing her that he was testing boundaries.
“He was testing if I would resist, if I was an easy prey who’d let him get away with it,” she shared.
Sadly, this wasn’t her first unpleasant encounter of this kind. Speaking later to Zaobao, Gini revealed that similar incidents had happened before.
“Once, a man deliberately walked towards me even though there was space and bumped into me. Another time, someone brushed his elbow against my chest while passing by,” she said.
“These may look like accidents, but they clearly cross the line — and not one of them ever apologised.”
According to her, this bus incident was already the second such case this year.
Staying Calm but Standing Firm
Despite the upsetting experience, Gini stressed that she won’t let fear change her daily routine.
“I still believe Singapore is a relatively safe place. I won’t lose confidence in public transport just because of isolated incidents,” she said calmly.
“The real problem lies in the behaviour and mindset of the offender, not the environment itself.”
Her Message to Other Women
Gini ended her message with a heartfelt reminder to other women not to stay silent in similar situations.
“The best thing to do is confront the offender immediately, seek help from the bus driver or other passengers, and take note of the time, location, and what happened,” she advised.
“And please, report it to the police. Stay alert, but most importantly — don’t blame yourself.”
She also encouraged anyone affected by such incidents to seek professional help if they feel emotionally distressed.
“Your safety and peace of mind are what matter most,” she said.
Gini Chang’s post struck a chord with many online — not only because of the courage it took to speak out, but also because of the calm strength she showed in handling it.
Her message was clear: Speak up, stay aware, and never feel guilty for protecting your boundaries.
Source: Zaobao