There is no enforcement in Singapore

Forum: Govt must act firmly against residents who break rules in HDB estates​

Dec 11, 2024

Incidents of residents cluttering the common corridors at HDB blocks are a symptom of a larger problem – the lack of enforcement of existing rules and regulations.

For decades, rules have been in place to maintain the cleanliness and safety of public housing estates, and to foster community living. However, a lack of consistent enforcement has created a culture of non-compliance in some residents. This has led to some residents feeling that they can disregard the rules without consequences.

By not taking a firmer stance against rule-breakers, the authorities are inadvertently condoning bad behaviour. This creates an unfair environment for responsible residents who take pride in their living spaces.

The authorities’ reliance on education and engagement alone is insufficient. While these efforts are important, they are no substitute for consistent enforcement of rules.

It is time for a more proactive approach to enforcing rules and regulations in public housing estates. This includes increasing patrols, issuing warnings and fines, and working with residents to maintain clean and safe living environments.

Only by taking a firmer stance against irresponsible behaviour can we create a more considerate and community-minded society.

Mohamad Nurhafiz Mohd Noor

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

Forum: Minimise construction noise for better HDB living​

Dec 20, 2024

Despite numerous complaints and regulatory efforts, excessive noise pollution from construction activities in densely populated HDB estates remains a significant and unresolved issue.

I’ve noticed this in areas like Choa Chu Kang/Teck Whye, where projects such as the construction of new electrical switch rooms, addition and alteration of drop-off porches, and improvement works to surface carparks continue to disrupt residents’ peace.

A primary culprit is the use of noisy excavator-mounted concrete breakers, without adequate consideration for quieter alternatives. While the National Environment Agency (NEA) has implemented noise regulations, enforcement and accountability remain inadequate, further exacerbating the situation, leaving residents to bear the brunt of the noise pollution.

I have repeatedly raised concerns about this issue through letters to The Straits Times Forum, and feel that more can be done.

To address this persistent problem, we must:

– Strengthen enforcement: The NEA should impose stricter penalties for noise violations and hold the employers, and consultants, besides the contractors, accountable for adhering to noise regulations.

– Promote quieter construction: Prioritise environmentally friendly construction methods and encourage the adoption of quieter technologies. Explore alternative tools and techniques such as stitch coring, low-noise hydraulic breakers or silenced models designed for urban or noise-sensitive areas, to reduce noise pollution without compromising efficiency.


– Leverage the Quieter Construction Innovation Fund: The NEA should actively promote the use of this fund to incentivise the adoption of quieter construction practices.

Government agencies, contractors and policymakers must work together to address this pressing issue.

Residents in HDB estates deserve a peaceful living environment, free from the relentless disruption caused by excessive construction noise.

Loong Chik Tong

Forum: Inflated job titles and no overtime pay​

Jan 01, 2025

I write in response to the article by Dr Natt Srinara (Strain behind smiles: Why the hospitality industry must prioritise its people, Dec 23), which highlights the alarming issue of staff burnout in Singapore’s hospitality sector.

It sheds light on an industrywide concern, and I wish to draw attention to a specific issue: how some employers are bypassing labour laws to avoid paying overtime wages to their shift employees.

It is worth noting that The Straits Times had previously reported on this matter (MOM warns employers not to mis-label staff as execs, managers to avoid paying them benefits like overtime, July 2, 2018). Despite the Ministry of Manpower’s (MOM) warnings, such practices persist. Employers continue to assign inflated job titles to employees, effectively circumventing the law and denying staff their rightful benefits.


I appeal to MOM to adopt a more vigilant stance and take stronger enforcement action against such exploitative practices. Employers who engage in these actions should be admonished and penalised, as they undermine the principles of fair employment and contribute to the burnout crisis highlighted by Dr Srinara.

Additionally, the Government could address this issue by raising the salary threshold for non-workman employees to at least $3,000 or more. This adjustment would ensure more workers qualify for overtime pay, aligning compensation with Singapore’s high cost of living while deterring exploitation. Incentivising employers to hire more manpower instead of relying on excessive overtime hours will further promote a sustainable and fair working environment.

I hope this letter serves as a call to action – for employers, the public and the authorities – to foster fairer and more humane working environments across the hospitality industry.

April Jacqueline Loh

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8 telehealth providers investigated by MOH for lapses​

Enforcement action has been taken against three of the providers, including MaNaDr Clinic.ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI

Lee Li Ying
Jan 08, 2025

SINGAPORE – Eight telemedicine providers have been or are currently being investigated for lapses in clinical care or inappropriate advertisements of services, said Senior Minister of State for Health Janil Puthucheary in Parliament on Jan 7.

Enforcement action has been taken against three of the providers, including MaNaDr Clinic, Dr Janil added.

MaNaDr Clinic was found to have more than 100,000 teleconsultations that lasted one minute or less in a sampled month, among other lapses. The Ministry of Health (MOH) revoked the clinic’s licence on Dec 20, 2024, barring it from providing outpatient medical services.


Responding to parliamentary questions on whether there are similar trends of unethical telehealth providers following the MaNaDr case, Dr Janil said that the eight telemedicine providers have been or are being investigated for non-compliances in two categories.

The first is in clinical care, such as doctors issuing prescriptions and medical certificates without proper clinical assessment or not conducting video consultations for first-time patients.

The second is for inappropriate advertisements, such as those promoting the unnecessary use of telemedicine services.

The actions taken include a short suspension and a stern warning, commensurate with the severity of the breaches, said Dr Janil.

In addition, medical practitioners have been referred to the Singapore Medical Council for potential lapses in professional standards. The council’s review is under way.

He did not name the other operators as investigations are still ongoing.


In 2024, MOH received 59 complaints regarding telemedicine involving 20 operators.

There were a number of licensees involved and there were “some very short teleconsultations”, said Dr Janil, adding that the ministry is trying to establish what the exact numbers are.

He pointed out that a short teleconsultation is not automatically incorrect if it is with a regular patient, or a follow-up, or if necessary information has been obtained.

“We have to look at the entire clinical care that has been provided and make sure it’s appropriate. It’s not the fact of telemedicine that is necessarily wrong, it’s whether correct clinical care has been provided through this modality, and that sometimes requires inpatient consultation,” said Dr Janil.

“Sometimes, it requires the appropriate breadth and time for the interactions so that correct information is provided. And in some cases, it is an issue of whether or not the correct documentation of the process has been carried out. So all of these things are part of the investigation process.”


Responding to a question on how telemedicine may be abused to get easy access to medical certificates, Dr Janil pointed out that such inappropriate behaviour can happen in an in-person setting as well.

When it comes to telemedicine abuse, there are a variety of things that the ministry looks at, which include metrics in terms of the numbers, the patient mix and the justifications for the medical certificate or any other therapeutic intervention.

“Ultimately, has a correct assessment been provided? And is the treatment – whether it is medication, investigation or medical certificate – appropriate to the medical condition that has been detected and appropriately documented?”

Dr Janil said it is important to recognise that telemedicine can bring tremendous benefits to patients, especially those who are immobile or doing regular follow-ups. It makes healthcare much more accessible and convenient to patients.

“However, as in any new service delivery model, there will be abuse and misuse, especially in the initial period of implementation. MOH will take the necessary enforcement action, (so) that over time, best practices become normalised.”

The public can raise concerns on the provision of telemedicine via e-mail at [email protected]

Sale of flick knives and knuckledusters to be regulated after several knife attacks in 2024​

Questions were raised in Parliament on Jan 7 on incidents relating to knife crimes, including the attack at St Joseph’s Church on Nov 9, 2024, and what the authorities were doing to protect Singaporeans.PHOTO: ST FILE

Nadine Chua
Jan 07, 2025

SINGAPORE – Flick knives and knuckledusters will be added to the list of six regulated weapons in the first half of 2025 to safeguard public safety following several knife attacks in 2024.

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) currently regulates the sale of daggers, swords, spears, spearheads, bayonets, and dangerous bows and arrows through the Arms and Explosives Act.

On Jan 7, Minister of State for Home Affairs Sun Xueling said in Parliament that this list will be expanded to include flick knives and knuckledusters when the Guns, Explosives and Weapons Control Act is operationalised in the first half of 2025.


Ms Sun was responding to questions from Dr Tan Wu Meng (Jurong GRC) and Mr Christopher de Souza (Holland-Bukit Timah GRC) on incidents relating to knife crimes and what the authorities were doing to protect Singaporeans.

Their questions come after a priest was attacked at St Joseph’s Church on Nov 9, 2024.

Basnayake Keith Spencer, 37, allegedly approached Reverend Christopher Lee while the Catholic priest was giving communion and stabbed him in the mouth.

Basnayake was charged with using a dangerous weapon to voluntarily cause grievous hurt to Father Lee.

According to court documents, the priest suffered an 8cm laceration on his tongue, a 3cm cut on his upper left lip and a 4cm cut on the corner of his mouth.

Ms Sun said that as at November 2024, there were 129 cases of murder, attempted murder, robbery, rioting and serious hurt involving knives that year.


She said none of these crimes occurred at a place of worship, except for the knife attack at St Joseph’s Church.

She said the 2024 figure was comparable to the number of cases between 2021 and 2023, which saw an average of 133 cases annually.

In 2022, MHA said there were around 150 cases of knife-related crime annually between 2017 and 2021, which meant there was an incident about every two days.


The Straits Times reported in December 2024 that the number of murder reports was at its highest in five years, with 10 cases reported that year.

According to the Singapore Department of Statistics, there were four murders in 2023, seven each in 2022 and 2021, and eight in 2020.

Ms Sun said MHA does not track whether offenders had mental health issues.

She added that police officers are trained and equipped to deal with crimes involving knives.

“While the incidence of crimes involving knives is low, it is important, nevertheless, that we all know how to respond when such attacks occur. The November 2024 incident at St Joseph’s Church is a case in point,” she said.

On Nov 10, Mr Richard Tan Chai Boon and Mr Damien Liew Khee Rui were given the Public Spiritedness Award for their bravery in disarming and helping to detain Basnayake until the police arrived at the scene.

Ms Sun said MHA has been engaging the public through the SGSecure movement, which includes the sharing of advisories and the importance of learning emergency preparedness skills like first aid.

She added: “Together, these measures help ensure a high level of public safety, security awareness and contingency readiness in our society.”

About 50 lorries have installed mandatory speed limiters since scheme kicked in; TP concerned by low take-up​

Eligible lorries who fail to comply with the installation deadlines will be liable for an offence and fail their periodic inspection.


A worker at the back of a lorry carrying goods, which may cause injury in a crash if not fastened.

07 Jan 2025

SINGAPORE: Around 50 lorries with a maximum laden weight between 3,500 kg and 12,000kg have completed the mandatory installation of speed limiters, as of end-2024.

Home Affairs Minister K Shanmugam said in a written parliamentary answer on Tuesday (Jan 7) that the traffic police (TP) started the mandatory installation of speed limiters for such lorries in January 2024.

Such speed limiters ensure that lorries do not go beyond the speed limit of 60kmh.

A year has since passed and "TP is concerned by the low installation rate", Mr Shanmugam said.

He was replying to a question by MP Louis Ng (PAP-Nee Soon) about the percentage of lorries that have complied with the installation of mandatory speed limiters.

The police told CNA on Thursday that as of end-2024, there are about 17,000 eligible lorries which are required to install such speed limiters.

TP is working with authorised motor distributors, the Motor Traders Association of Singapore and authorised inspection centres to encourage lorry owners to install speed limiters early, such as when their vehicles are sent in for regular maintenance, said Mr Shanmugam.

He added that TP has also started sending out SMS reminders to lorry owners and will continue to do so at regular basis.

"We urge lorry owners to install speed limiters early, ahead of the compliance deadlines, to avoid a bottleneck at the workshops," said Mr Shanmugam.

"Older lorries are required to comply sooner, with heavier lorries by Jan 1, 2026, and lighter lorries by Jul 1, 2026."

Newer lorries have until 2027 to comply as speed limiters for such vehicles were not previously available.

Eligible lorries who fail to comply with the installation deadlines will be liable for an offence and fail their periodic inspection.


The requirement for such lorries to have speed limiters installed is in line with measures to improve the safety of workers being ferried in them.

People onboard lorries, including those in the front passenger cabins, make up on average about 4 per cent of the total annual injuries from road traffic accidents for the past five years, the Ministry of Transport and government partner agencies said in August 2023.

The expansion of the speed limiter scheme came after an inter-agency review that involved industry groups, safety experts, transport operators, private companies, non-governmental organisations and academic institutions.

Speed limiters had already been mandated for all goods vehicles with a maximum laden weight exceeding 12,000kg, while speed warning devices are required for all goods vehicles with a maximum laden weight of up to 3,500kg.

The installation will be done in phases, with TP acknowledging in November 2023 that "some time is required" to develop the speed limiters to comply with local requirements, as well as to supply and install them.

Such speed limiters can only be installed by companies authorised to do so by TP.

Other measures in recent years to improve worker safety include requiring employers to ensure that lorry drivers - particularly those with dual roles of ferrying workers and working onsite - have at least 30 minutes of rest after six hours on the job, before they can continue ferrying others.

Rain covers for lorries have been made mandatory, on top of the requirement to designate a "vehicle buddy" for all lorries with workers in rear decks.

The authorities also said in November 2023 they are reviewing laws to strengthen deterrence against speed-limiter offences, such as tampering and non-compliant speed limiters and against unauthorised speed limiter works.

Mandatory speed limiters fitted on only about 50 lorries since Jan 2024: Shanmugam​

Speed limiters ensure that these vehicles do not exceed a speed limit of 60kmh.PHOTO: ST FILE

Vanessa Paige Chelvan
Jan 16, 2025

SINGAPORE – The authorities can prioritise lorries used to transport workers when it comes to the installation of speed limiters, as only around 50 lorries out of thousands on the road have been fitted with them so far.

This was a suggestion made by Mr Lim Kian Chin, chairman of the Singapore Transport Association (STA), to boost the low installation rate of speed limiters, which are required for lorries with a maximum laden weight (MLW) of between 3,501kg and 12,000kg.

Speed limiters ensure that these vehicles do not exceed a speed limit of 60kmh.


Home Affairs Minister K. Shanmugam told Parliament on Jan 7 that as at end-2024, only around 50 lorries have completed the installation of speed limiters.

In response to queries, the Traffic Police (TP) said that as at end-2024, there were about 17,000 eligible lorries which are required to install speed limiters.

This means that speed limiters have been installed in less than 1 per cent of eligible lorries.

TP, which started the installation of speed limiters for eligible lorries in January 2024, “is concerned by the low installation rate”, Mr Shanmugam said in a written reply.

He was responding to a question from Nee Soon GRC MP Louis Ng, who had asked what percentage of lorries that require a speed limiter to be installed have done so.

Speaking to The Straits Times, Mr Ng said it was “disappointing” that only 50 lorries have met this requirement.


“It is quite a while more before it becomes mandatory (from 2026),” he said. In the meantime, “the lives and limbs of hundreds and thousands of workers” are at risk.

Mr Ng, who has long advocated the safety of workers being ferried around on the back of lorries, pointed to a recent accident on Dec 15, 2024.

A 40-year-old man, one of several workers travelling on the back of a lorry, died after an accident in Tuas. Two male passengers were also injured in the incident.

A 41-year-old male lorry driver is being investigated for a negligent act causing death.

While Mr Ng acknowledged that not all accidents are due to speeding, he said that “whatever we can do (to make things safer), we should do. One of them is speed limiters”.

Mr Shanmugam urged lorry owners to install speed limiters early, ahead of the compliance deadlines, to avoid a bottleneck at workshops.

“Eligible lorries that fail to comply by the deadlines will be liable for an offence, and will fail their periodic inspection,” he warned.

Mr Shanmugam said TP is working with authorised motor distributors, the Motor Traders Association of Singapore and authorised inspection centres to encourage more lorry owners to install speed limiters early.

According to TP, it has sent out about 7,000 SMS reminders since July 2024 to all lorry owners whose vehicles are covered by the new regulations, and will continue to do so on a quarterly basis until the deadlines, TP said.

Mr Lim, the STA chairman, said that while he supports the use of speed limiters, he thinks lorry owners “will wait until the last minute and rush to go and get them installed”.

“These are normal people,” he said.

“Why would they do it now, when the law says it has to be done by 2026? There’s still one more year to go,” he said when asked about the current low installation rate.

To boost the installation rate, Mr Lim suggested that the authorities prioritise lorries that ferry workers, instead of a “generic timeframe for people to meet”.

Mr Hooi Yu Koh, chief executive of construction engineering company Kori Holdings, also put the low installation rate down to the deadline being “far away, so there is no necessity to rush”.

He also pointed out that there was a limited number of suppliers and installers in 2024 when the requirement was first rolled out.

But he said his firm, which leases its three lorries, had in mid- to late-2024 asked its supplier to provide them with lorries equipped with speed limiters for “safety benefits”.

He said there are “no drawbacks” to speed limiters, and he is assured that the drivers whom Kori Holdings hires to transport its workers will not speed.

Mr Kenneth Yap, assistant general manager of after sales at Goldbell Engineering, an authorised agent for the installation of speed limiters, said the take-up rate has been low.

“Customers are often hesitant to incur the added expense up front (when registering new vehicles), and with the regulatory deadline still some time away, many customers do not feel an urgency to proceed with installation,” he added.

Installation costs range from $350 to $1,400, depending on the type of speed limiter required for each vehicle model, Mr Yap said.

However, he expects demand to rise as the deadline approaches, and he is noticing that more lorry owners are ready to install speed limiters now.

Goldbell has already done so on its Fuso trucks, of which it is the authorised distributor, he added.

In November 2023, TP announced that to improve safety, lighter lorries with an MLW of between 3,501kg and 12,000kg would be required to have speed limiters.

It was already compulsory for goods vehicles with an MLW exceeding 12,000kg to have a speed limiter installed.

For lorries registered before 2018, a speed limiter must be installed before 2026 if their MLW is between 5,001kg and 12,000kg, and before July 2026 for those with an MLW of between 3,501kg and 5,000kg.

For newer lorries registered from 2018, drivers will have to install the device before 2027 if the MLW of their vehicle is between 5,001kg and 12,000kg, and before July 2027 if the MLW is between 3,501kg and 5,000kg.

Speed limiters will also be required for imported lorries to be approved from 2026.

These devices can improve road safety and driving behaviour, and when combined with other measures like enforcement, they help to reduce fatalities and injuries among road users.

“It is particularly important for larger and heavier vehicles not to speed, given the increased risks they pose to other road users,” TP said.

On Dec 28, 2024, a 58-year-old motorcyclist died on the spot in an accident involving a lorry on the Ayer Rajah Expressway. The lorry driver, a 46-year-old man, was arrested on suspicion of causing death by negligent act.

Days later, on Dec 31, 2024, two lorry drivers were taken to hospital following a five-vehicle accident in Choa Chu Kang. The accident involved three lorries, one van and one prime mover hauling a container.

Jun 25, 2025, 03:14pm

Passenger eats waffle on train: 'Is there lack of enforcement of rules?'​

PHOTOS: STOMP

Deanna Wong
Submitted by Stomper
Freeze Lychee
A female passenger was caught on camera eating a waffle on the East-West Line train towards Pasir Ris on June 23.

Stomper Freeze Lychee saw the passenger board the train at Chinese Garden MRT station at around 5.40pm.

"She was holding and eating a waffle onboard, which is a violation of MRT rules," said Freeze Lychee.


The Stomper then took a video of the waffle-eating passenger standing beside her.

Freeze Lychee said: "While I had considered submitting the video privately to the MRT authorities, I believe making it public could serve as a stronger deterrent.


"More and more people are eating on trains these days, despite clear rules against it.

"They can't possibly be unaware - this behaviour shows a disregard for public guidelines."

After two men were caught eating apples on the train recently, Freeze Lychee asked: "Why are people still eating on trains?

"Is there a lack of monitoring or enforcement of rules on MRT trains?"

Even though it is becoming a common sight, eating and drinking is prohibited on the MRT.

Those found guilty face a fine of up to $500.