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Poor Urban Town Planning Leads To Much Unhappiness Among Residents

Future residents of Build-To-Order (BTO) project Fernvale Lea are up in arms over a planned Chinese temple with columbarium next to their flats. The columbarium, where funeral urns will be stored, will take up 15 per cent of the temple it will be housed at.

About 400 would-be residents of Fernvale Lea attended a closed-door dialogue with Dr Lam Pin Min, MP for Sengkang West, on Jan 4. There have even been requests to get refunds from the Housing Board.

There have been other cases of people not wanting certain types of amenities in their neighbourhood – or, as many know it, the not-in-my-backyard (Nimby) syndrome. Here are some past incidents:

1. October 2013 – International school in Pasir Ris

Issue: Building of international school near homes

A group of residents in Pasir Ris were against the idea of a 12-storey international school looming over their homes and causing traffic congestion. They also wanted to preserve the forested area that had to be cleared for the building.

Outcome: New roads off Pasir Ris Drive 3 and opposite Pasir Ris Drive 10 were created to ensure smooth traffic. Academic buildings were tilted at an angle to reduce the sense of “towering” over the homes, which are mostly terrace or semi-detached homes. The school amenities which generate higher level of noise – such as the school bus drop-off points, sports facilities and the school canteen – were built farthest from the neighbouring residences, nearer to Pasir Ris Drive 3.

2. February 2013 – Nursing home in Yew Tee

Issue: Some Yew Tee residents were against plans to build a nursing home in their neighbourhood. They raised concerns like noise pollution during construction, traffic congestion in the single-lane roads that serve the area, and the nursing home blocking their view.

Outcome: The nursing home was built to be seven storeys, instead of eight, and the single lane in Choa Chu Kang North 6, towards Choa Chu Kang North 5, was expanded into a dual lane.

3. May 2012 – Nursing home in Bishan East

Issue: Residents said their view would be blocked by the nursing home, and that air flow would be restricted by the building.

Outcome: The building was capped at six instead of eight storeys.

4. May 2012 – Tall condominiums in Upper Bukit Timah

Issue: Dairy Farm, Chestnut and Cashew estate residents were concerned about taller condominiums being built in the area blocking their green view of a secondary forest, and towering over their low-rise homes. They were also worried that the development may harm the plant and animal life, and increase surface runoff into a canal, which already fills when it rains. They were also upset that a planned road in the area would cut into a canal-side jogging trail popular with residents.

Outcome: The housing blocks on the site were limited to 15 storeys, and a proposed commercial property next to the site was relocated elsewhere. The construction of the road was held off.

5. March 2012 – Studio apartments for elderly in Toh Yi

Issue: Residents in Toh Yi were unhappy with the idea of studio apartments for the elderly being built in their estate. Plans were for the apartments to be built where the area’s main recreational facilities – a basketball court, jogging track and community garden – were. Residents were concerned that these facilities would be taken away from them. Some also questioned if the site was suitable for building apartments for the elderly because of the slopes.

Outcome: HDB decided to build a children’s playground and community garden on the second floor of the studio apartment building that would be open to everyone. A jogging path was also planned. Fifty carpark spaces were added to relieve the parking shortage in nearby blocks, and footpaths were added to link the studio units seamlessly to the surrounding neighbourhood.

6. October 2008 – Workers’ dormitory in Serangoon Gardens

Issue: Serangoon Gardens residents were up in arms over plans to build a workers’ dormitory in their estate. They cited noise and pollution from buses ferrying workers, a possible increase in crime, traffic congestion, and lower market value for their properties in the upper-middle class neighbourhood as reasons for their unhappiness.

Outcome: No more than 600 foreigners – generally factory workers in the IT and electronics industries in Ang Mo Kio – were housed at the dormitory, although a feasibility study showed that the space could accommodate 1,000 people. An access road to the building was built, so that buses transporting workers to and from the dormitory need not wind through the estate, and would not worsen traffic congestion problems. The facility came with amenities, designed to ensure that workers would spend most of their time in the dormitory. The area for the site also ended up smaller than planned, making it farther from homes.

7. October 2007 – Funeral home in Sin Ming

Issue: A proposed building in Sin Ming for funeral parlours triggered protests among some of the area’s residents, who said there were already too many of them in the estate. They said that placing it near their residential blocks was not ideal, taking into account traditional superstitions which associate death and dying with bad luck. Some also feared a drop in the value of their properties. The site for the proposed building was an empty plot next to Bright Hill Temple, which is near Ai Tong School and residential areas, including HDB blocks and private condominiums.

Outcome: The Government brought forward the development of an adjacent industrial site so it can serve as a buffer between the funeral parlour site and the nearest residential areas and school. Work on the funeral parlour started only after the industrial site developed. The Government also increased the number of car parking lots. The operator of the parlour was also given conditions such as having fully enclosed and air-conditioned premises and confining all activities indoors. All services and activities were screened off from public view through the design and landscaping of the development.

Source: www.straitstimes.com

January 6, 2015
19 Year Old Sentenced To Probation And Community Service For Running A Brothel

A 19-year-old Singaporean who was caught running a brothel was on Monday (Jan 5) sentenced to 18 months of probation and 120 hours of community service.

Jaryl Tan Wencong was arrested by Central Narcotics Bureau officers on July 8 last year during a drug bust at a hotel in Geylang.

Another Singaporean man, 22-year-old Cheng Wei Guang, was arrested with Tan. Six Thai passports and a photocopy of another passport, all belonging to Thai women, were found on the two men.

A third man — 21-year-old Francis Tan Thuan Heng — has also been arrested for involvement with the syndicate and is currently awaiting trial.

Cheng faced 16 charges and was sentenced to nine months in jail last year.

Investigations revealed that the women were working for a vice syndicate run by a person known only as David, who would upload photographs of women to the Internet and secure clients, for whom the women would provide sexual services.

Court documents showed that Jaryl and the two men were in charge of running a brothel out of several condominium units at Mount Elizabeth. Their tasks included delivering food, condoms and lubricants to the women and cleaning the units.

The three men also collected the women’s earnings at the end of each day.

Jaryl also pleaded guilty to the charge of receiving women who were being used for prostitution.

On July 1 last year, Jaryl and Cheng picked up Ms Sukana Yenjai, a 30-year-old Thai national, from Changi Airport and took her to the Mount Elizabeth condominium.

Investigations showed that an unknown agent in Thailand had made arrangements for Ms Yenjai to come to Singapore to work as a prostitute.

During the hearing at the State Courts yesterday, District Judge Lim Keng Yeow considered nine other charges against Jaryl, including living on immoral earnings of the prostitutes.

Under the probation order, Jaryl, who will be enlisted into the army on March 6, has to remain indoors from 10pm to 6am when he is out of camp.

The judge also ordered his mother to pay a bond of S$5,000 to ensure his good behaviour.

Source: www.channelnewsasia.com

January 6, 2015
Defending Malay Culture With The Keris

The keris has captured their hearts since they were little, when the traditional weapon was wielded by a Malay warrior in old films.

However, Suhaimi Nasrain, Sharif Rashid and Shahrial Tahar collect keris not to become swordsmen. On the contrary, they have turned their hobby into an effort to preserve Malay culture.

Their passion has cost them tens of thousands of dollars. A good-quality antique keris in their collection, which are between 100 and 500 years old, is worth $500 to $10,000.

“The aim to collect these keris is not only to please myself, but also to study them in detail to defend the Malay people’s culture and existence,” said Mr Suhaimi, 44, a public transport worker who is one of the founders of the Yayasan Keris Singapura (YKS).

He has been collecting keris for eight years, and has nearly 30 antique keris.

Mr Shahrial, an information technology analyst aged 47, began his hobby 30 years ago.

“As a symbol of Malay tradition and philosophy by its design and workmanship, the keris can offer a glimpse into the Malay culture from various areas in this Malay archipelago,” said the owner of 20 keris of good grade, who also has nearly 100 reference books on the weapons.

He is also active in researching the background and history of keris.

“Although my interest in Malay culture generally lessens with each day, I feel proud because there are those who try to preserve Malay culture,” said Mr Shahrial, who is also a founder of YKS, the cultural wing of Perguruan Seni Silat Gayung Singapura.

Mr Sharif, a driving instructor, has been active in the world of keris collecting for 25 years and owns a collection of 50.

Other than buying keris and other traditional Malay weapons from the Malay Art Gallery in Bussorah Street, the three keris collectors source for the artefacts on Facebook and eBay, linking up with suppliers and keris enthusiasts from Malaysia, Indonesia, Europe and the United States.

“Keris enthusiasts are not limited to one area or race. In fact, it is a global hobby,” said Mr Shahrial.

Mr Shahrial, Mr Suhaimi and other members of YKS conduct talks about keris at schools and cultural events to raise awareness among the Malays on the various aspects of Malay culture.

Mr Sharif, 58, feels that the first step that has to be taken to raise interest in the art of keris collecting is to dispel misconceptions.

“It’s quite sad if the Malays associate keris only with the occult, because the keris is a work of art that was like the calling card of ancient times,” said Mr Sharif, who is also secretary of a body known as the Sri Ikatan Pusaka Melayu Singapura.

“By studying the unique properties of a keris, we can ascertain the origins and even the rank of the person owning it.”

BERITA HARIAN

Source: http://mypaper.sg

January 6, 2015
Police Looking For Woman In Relation To Loanshark Harassment Case In Sembawang

Police are looking for the female subject shown in the photograph to assist with investigations into a case of Loanshark Harassment reported at the vicinity of Sembawang Close on 1 January 2015.

The woman is believed to be in her twenties and of fair complexion, medium build and about 1.60 metres in height. She was last seen attired in a black top, blue denim shorts and black slippers. She was also wearing a pair of spectacles with a black and white frame.

Anyone with information is requested to call the Police Hotline at 1800-2550000. Information can also be submitted online at www.spf.gov.sg/CrimeStopper.

All information will be kept strictly confidential.

Source: www.facebook.com/SembawangNPC

January 6, 2015
Tommy Koh: I Am Disturbed By The Inequality In Singapore

Dr Tommy Koh has revealed that the poverty rate in Singapore can be as high as 33 percent in Singapore and 60 percent of university students come from families which cannot earn enough to survive.

“I am disturbed by the inequality in Singapore,” Dr Koh wrote in an opinion piece in The Straits Times on Jan 3.

“We have one of the highest Gini coefficients in the world. I am unhappy that many of our children are growing up in poverty. About a third of our students go to school with no pocket money to buy lunch.”

Indeed, the poverty rate in Singapore has been estimated to be as high as 30 percent. National University of Singapore economist Tilak Abeysinghe has also calculated that 30 percent of Singaporeans cannot earn enough and have to spend 105 percent to 151 percent of their incomes.

“As a trustee of two education trusts, I am reminded each year of the large number of needy students in our schools and tertiary institutions. I was shocked when the president of one of our universities told us recently that 60 per cent of his students need financial assistance,” Dr Koh also said.

Indeed, a Straits Times survey had shown that two-thirds of middle-income households in Singapore are able to earn enough only to spend on basic necessities and nothing else.

“At the other end of the spectrum, I am worried about the growing number of the elderly poor. Many of them are in poor health and have inadequate savings. Many of them live in loneliness, having no family or been abandoned by family and relatives,” he said.

It is indeed the case that over the past few years, there have been a growing number of stories of how older Singaporeans have chosen to die because they cannot afford their medical fees.

What Dr Koh say is not new but it is the first admission from someone who is close to the establishment to have detailed these facts.

Today, Singapore has risen to become the most expensive country and city in the world.

But Singaporeans still continue to earn one of the lowest wages among the developed countries in the world. In fact, there is still no minimum wage in Singapore – one of only 10 percent of countries in the world not to have one.

In 2012, Dr Koh also wrote in an article comparing the GDP per capita of Singapore with the Nordic countries. Singapore’s GDP per capita was on par with the Nordic countries, but wages are drastically different.

Dr Koh revealed that cleaners in Singapore would only earn $800 when cleaners in the Nordic countries would earn between $2,085 to $5,502, or several times more.

However, because Singaporeans also have to pay for the highest cost of living in the world, this has also meant that Singaporeans have the lowest purchasing power among the developed countries.

Dr Koh had then also written, “The truth is that we pay these workers such low wages not primarily because their productivity is inherently low, but largely because they are competing against an unlimited supply of cheap foreign workers.

“The solution is for the State to reduce the supply of cheap foreign workers or introduce a minimum wage or to target specific industries, such as the hospitality industry, for wage enhancement.”

It is debatable whether the government has done so. The government has said that the basic wages of cleaners will be increased to $1,000 every month and for security guards, this will be increased to $1,100 but the new base salary will only take effect in 2016 for the latter.

However, critics argue that $1,000 or $1,100 is still insufficient when Singaporeans have estimated that a minimum wage of $1,700 or more would be necessary to have the most basic of living in Singapore.

Source: www.therealsingapore.com

January 5, 2015