Media Releases

5 February 2002
Honesty Earns Cabby Taxi Driver Of The Month AwardIn a recession like this, one might be tempted to keep expensive top-of-the-line gadgets such as handphones, palm tops as well as money one chanced upon. After all, it is a finder's-keepers world out there. But not so with 47-year-old Cabby Toh Thiam Huat, a believer that honesty is the best policy.

He has had, in the last three years, picked up and returned items including a gift package, a handphone and a palm top to Comfort's Lost and Found Department. His last find was $2,000 belonging to passenger Madam Wong, whom he picked up on 26 December 2001.

On that day, Madam Wong and her friend boarded Cabby Toh's taxi from Jurong at 4.50pm. Hands full with documents, Madam Wong did not realise her purse had slipped from her hand and onto the rear seat when she alighted. It was only after Cabby Toh had left did she discover her loss. In her purse was about $2,000 cash. Panic-stricken, she immediately called Comfort's Lost & Found Department.

Responding to a general broadcast on the lost purse, Cabby Toh checked the taxi's rear seat and found it. He immediately called Madam Wong to announce his find and arranged for its return. True to his word, Cabby Toh arrived in 20 minutes and returned the purse to a relieved Madam Wong. Two days later, Madam Wong called Comfort Transportation to commend him.

When told that his honest act had earned him the title, Taxi Driver of the Month (January 2002), the first to be given out this year, Cabby Toh was surprised. He said modestly, " I did not expect Madam Wong to commend me. When I found the purse, my first priority was to allay Madam Wong's fears, so I called her to assure her. My next concern was to bring the purse back to its rightful owner. I am only doing my job."

Madam Wong was delighted to hear that her commendation had led to Cabby Toh's award. She said, " It had meant so much to me that Cabby Toh drove all the way to return the money. I am glad he is awarded for his honesty."

Comfort Transportation's Executive Director, Mr Yang Ban Seng, who gave away the Taxi Driver of the Month Award to Cabby Toh at a ceremony this morning said, " Our cabbies return an average of about 700 found items to our Lost & Found Department every month. Every item, regardless of value, is dear to the owner who retrieves it. I am extremely proud that our cabbies, such as Cabby Toh, have been faithfully returning found items. By recognising this act, we hope to encourage our drivers to uphold the integrity of this profession."