Law and Foreign Affairs Minister K. Shanmugam has intervened in the dispute between neighbours that might see a dying man have to part with his two dogs.
Mr Shanmugam visited the man, Mr Tan Cheng Chu, 63, on Friday and put up a picture (right) on his Facebook page of him with Mr Tan and the two schnauzers.
The Minister said he has spoken with Dr Maliki Osman, the MP for the area and asked if the MP might mediate in the dispute between the neighbours. The volunteer group Save Our Street Dogs is also willing to help in the discussions.
The aim is to get Mr Tan’s neighbour to withdraw the complaint. HDB rules state that each flat owner is allowed to keep only one dog. Those who have more than one often do so illegally but fly under the radar as long as there are no complaints.
“HDB is bound by its rules, though, given the circumstances, HDB has not enforced the rules for more than a year, despite the consistent complaints. HDB is, of course, in a very difficult position,” wrote Mr Shanmugam.
Mr Shanmugam said that when he visited Mr Tan and the dogs Silver and Rover, the thought that kept going through his mind was: “What sort of person will complain about Mr Tan keeping the dogs in such a situation? The dogs were friendly, adorable, and obedient.”
He added that this was the type of situation many MPs came across.
“There are many rules on how various activities have to be conducted. But such rules cannot foresee every situation.
“And, depending on the situation, sometimes there has to be discretion exercised on how the rules should actually be applied. But frequently we will get one or two residents who will insist that the rules be enforced strictly, though the vast majority are ok with the situation.”
Mr Shanmugam visited the man, Mr Tan Cheng Chu, 63, on Friday and put up a picture (right) on his Facebook page of him with Mr Tan and the two schnauzers.
The Minister said he has spoken with Dr Maliki Osman, the MP for the area and asked if the MP might mediate in the dispute between the neighbours. The volunteer group Save Our Street Dogs is also willing to help in the discussions.
The aim is to get Mr Tan’s neighbour to withdraw the complaint. HDB rules state that each flat owner is allowed to keep only one dog. Those who have more than one often do so illegally but fly under the radar as long as there are no complaints.
“HDB is bound by its rules, though, given the circumstances, HDB has not enforced the rules for more than a year, despite the consistent complaints. HDB is, of course, in a very difficult position,” wrote Mr Shanmugam.
Mr Shanmugam said that when he visited Mr Tan and the dogs Silver and Rover, the thought that kept going through his mind was: “What sort of person will complain about Mr Tan keeping the dogs in such a situation? The dogs were friendly, adorable, and obedient.”
He added that this was the type of situation many MPs came across.
“There are many rules on how various activities have to be conducted. But such rules cannot foresee every situation.
“And, depending on the situation, sometimes there has to be discretion exercised on how the rules should actually be applied. But frequently we will get one or two residents who will insist that the rules be enforced strictly, though the vast majority are ok with the situation.”
