‘I’m not a hero’: Cleaner who subdued knife-wielding man in Clementi learned silat in prison

On Monday, August 10, a cleaner named Osman Sidin intervened when he heard cries for help outside Clementi Mall in Singapore. The scene involved a man who had stabbed himself repeatedly with a knife. Sidin, 56, wrestled the knife away and pinned the 34-year-old assailant to the ground until authorities arrived. The knife, described as a durian chopper, was extremely sharp, and although no one else was present to assist, Sidin acted quickly.

Sidin, who was on his way to a medical appointment at the time, suffered a head injury during the confrontation. The victim, too, had suffered injuries, and blood was present on both individuals. Sidin expressed relief at the public's assistance in providing him with shirts to clean the blood from his body and head. He accepted praise from his wife for his actions and emphasized that he was not a hero, crediting his martial arts training in prison for his ability to subdue the attacker.

Sidin, who had a history of criminal activity before turning his life around, served time in prison where he learned silat, a martial art. He now works as a charity worker with Jamiyah Singapore and was visited by a local MP to receive support from the community. He was presented with a monetary gift by the residents to aid in his recovery.

Sidin returned to work the next day, acknowledging that he was injured but decided he was well enough to continue. He expressed a message of hope to the assailant, encouraging him to seek help regardless of their beliefs.