http://www.parliament.gov.sg/mp/seah-kian-peng
Give and take, not 'principled' approach
From Seah Kian Peng Member of Parliament, Marine Parade GRC
04:45 AM Nov 02, 2012
Parking issues in private estates are common. I have helped mediate these and have conducted various dialogues with my residents in private estates for various streets. They are time consuming and require effort and cooperation by all parties.
Ms Yolanda Chin, who lives near the eateries and wrote "Inconsistent parking enforcement" (Oct 31), had approached me previously about noise and traffic issues. I asked the eateries to cooperate and ensure their patrons observe the rules.
I also asked for enforcement to be stepped up during busy periods, when there was indiscriminate parking in the area. Residents have told me that things have since improved.
The garden party on the day in question, from 4pm to 6pm on a Saturday, was to celebrate the completion of an estate upgrading project in Ms Chin's estate. All its residents were invited.
As I was driving there, I saw an enforcement officer about to book some cars; I stopped and told him that many residents would be at the party and, unless their cars were obstructing traffic, to apply a light touch and not issue any summons.
This was not the peak period, the cars were parked in an orderly manner and I do not think there were any public safety issues as Ms Chin stated.
I am an advocate that everyone, resident or not, should be reasonable and considerate, with a give and take approach.
All are neighbours there, and when one starts to adopt an uncompromising or unneighbourly approach, such behaviour normally spreads.
It then becomes a lose-lose situation. Most importantly, it destroys the neighbourly spirit in any community.
There will always be some residents who insist that there be constant enforcement, regardless of circumstances. I am against such a "principled" approach for such matters.
I take heart that in two streets in my estate where such disputes used to occur, things have improved following a series of mediation and consensus building among residents.
They have adopted their own ground rules and determination to solve matters internally and to call the enforcement agency only as a last resort.
It has worked well, and the neighbourhood is more peaceful and cordial now.
Back to the garden party: As it was raining heavily from 5.30pm, most residents and cars had already left by then. I hope this letter puts things in the right perspective.