Forum: Dealing with municipal disamenities has to be prompt and effective
Dec 13, 2024
I agree completely with Mr Mohamad Nurhafiz Mohd Noor (
Govt must act firmly against residents who break rules in HDB estates, Dec 11) as I had been mulling over writing a similar letter.
In my HDB block and the immediate areas, one can see, smell or hear illegal activities every day, such as littering, bird feeding, smoking at the staircase and void deck, and loud noises during silent hours.
Residents have complained over the years, but actions taken have been ineffective or unreasonably delayed.
For example, it took me four complaints over four months and a letter to the National Environment Agency (NEA) chief executive before there was finally effective action against illegal smoking at a coffee shop.
NEA later explained that earlier enforcement had not worked because officers had not gone at the times when the offenders were there, which I had stated clearly.
The situation is the same for smoking in other prohibited areas. Multiple complaints, same perpetrators, but the unpleasant situation persists. In fact, when I confronted one of the lawbreakers, he brazenly said: “NEA cannot catch me; I am not afraid of them.”
My “favourite” example is that of bird-feeding, which has contributed to huge flocks of pigeons and dozens of thriving, screeching jungle fowl which start their day at 4am.
I do see banners educating people about this illegal act, but there are still many bird-feeders around.
Can the authorities take a leaf out of the Singapore Police Force’s book, which is to have pop-up boards stating how many people have been fined for such activities in the area?
Tan Yi Shu