People's power in asking accountablity in water tank issue

[theDoors]

Samantha Guo knows how to ask for accountability, organising the residents to ask town council to answer the question why is there a lapse.

She knows the town council well just sweep everything under the rug.

She took the trouble of going door to door and ask for residents to sign a petition to demand for an answer.

Resident Samantha Guo seen holding the microphone asking questions in the second photo.

The Straits Times
www.straitstimes.com
Published on May 21, 2011

Resident Samantha Guo went from flat to flat to tell her neighbours about a petition to request replacing the water tank in which a body was found. MP Vikram Nair and town council staff are scheduled to hold a meeting with residents this afternoon. -- ST PHOTO: CAROLINE CHIA

http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_671091.html

Woodlands water tank could be closed down

Some residents uneasy despite cleansing of tank where body was found


By Kimberly Spykerman & Yuen Sin
A ROOFTOP water storage tank in which the body of an Indonesian maid was found on Monday could end up being taken out of use, MP for Sembawang GRC Vikram Nair said on Friday.

Spooked residents in Block 686B, Woodlands Drive 73, which has 149 units, remain queasy about drinking water from the tank.

'While the tank has been completely cleansed, some residents are not comfortable psychologically,' Mr Nair added.

He has been in discussion with Sembawang Town Council and national water agency PUB on how viable it would be to depend on the remaining seven water tanks to supply water to the entire block.

'It is being discussed and we are looking to see what we can do about it,' he said, adding that the discussions were still in the preliminary stages.

Currently, one set of four water tanks, including the one in which 30-year-old Ruliyawati's body was found, is still not in use. Bangladeshi cleaner Md Repon Mostafa, 27, was charged on Wednesday with her murder. Her body was flown home to Semarang in Java on Friday.

Read the full report in Saturday's edition of The Straits Times.
[email protected]
[email protected]


The Straits Times
www.straitstimes.com
Published on May 22, 2011


IN THE ST NEWSPAPER TODAY
Woodlands residents voice anger

http://www.straitstimes.com/print/BreakingNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_671341.html

By Jessica Lim

ABOUT 150 angry Woodlands Drive residents took their town council to task on Saturday for its lack of transparency and failure to keep its water tanks safe.

They had showed up at a dialogue session at the void deck of Block 686B in Woodlands Drive 75 - the block where an Indonesian maid was allegedly murdered and thrown into a water tank last week.

All wanted to know one thing: Why didn't the town council tell them to stop consuming the water immediately?

The police received a call at about 10am last Monday about a body found in the tank. Water supply to the block was cut off an hour later, after which residents were handed notices that said maintenance work was being done. But many said they still consumed the water from the affected tank, the residual amount left in the pipes, till as late as 5pm that day.

'The town council should have told us more. I was still using the water to bathe and rinse my mouth,' said resident Edwin Hong, 40, at the dialogue attended by representatives from the town council, the Public Utilities Board and Sembawang GRC MP Vikram Nair.

'Maybe they could not tell us exactly what happened. But at the very least, they should have told us not to consume the water due to suspected contamination.'

Read the full report in The Sunday Times.

 

[po2wq]

Samantha Guo knows how to ask for accountability, organising the residents to ask town council to answer the question why is there a lapse ...

ze town council muz cum clean wif it ...

if dey r wrong, dey shud apologize! ...

 

[theDoors]

ze town council muz cum clean wif it ...

if dey r wrong, dey shud apologize! ...

Samantha Guo demonstrate to you how to press for an answer, if you want one.

If there are issues over the next 5 years, that you know that they are people who feel strongly about, this is the way to keep the pressure on them.

 

[makapaaa]

With more Samantha Guos daring to stand up and mobilize the people, the FAP has reason to be afraid. Indeed, a government that is afraid of its people will be forced to work harder to serve the people, not to mention the outrageous salaries its ministers have awarded themselves!

 

[theDoors]

With more Samantha Guos daring to stand up and mobilize the people, the FAP has reason to be afraid. Indeed, a government that is afraid of its people will be forced to work harder to serve the people, not to mention the outrageous salaries its ministers have awarded themselves!

They have been having a free ride for too long, it's time to they work and sweat to earn their pay.

 

[theDoors]

Title : Woodlands residents want new water tank
By :
Date : 21 May 2011 2252 hrs (SST)
URL : http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1130309/1/.html

SINGAPORE: Residents of Woodlands block 686B are pressing for a new water tank to replace the one where an Indonesian maid's body was found on Monday.

This was the top issue raised at a dialogue session held on Saturday afternoon with member of parliament (MP) Vikram Nair and Town Council members.

The residents made a collective call for a new water tank, CCTV surveillance of the rooftop, and even a change in the Town Council management.

Residents expressed anger and concern during the two-hour dialogue.

MP for Sembawang Group Representation Constituency (GRC) Vikram Nair said: "I understand where they're coming from. If I had a dead body (in my water tank),I would be just as upset; I'd want to know what went wrong".

Responding to some residents' requests, eight religious leaders held a blessing ceremony at the lift landing and rooftop.

Town Council general manager Soon Min Sin apologised to residents for not alerting them as soon as it was discovered that water may be contaminated.

On Monday, the Town Council had issued a written notice to residents informing them that the water supply will be shut off for maintenance purposes, without explaining that the water may be contaminated.

As for a new water tank, no fixed answers were given on Saturday, but Mr Nair said he will look into every request.

"In the meantime, changing the locks and restricting the keys to only Town Council staff will prevent this situation from happening again," Mr Nair said.

"But obviously, there's never enough security; you can always put in more at higher cost so the question is, at what point do you say it's enough?"

Although Mr Nair said he sensed that money was often not the issue, he said residents could approach him or the Town Council to reimburse medical bills for any related illnesses.

A S$10 utilities rebate is also offered as compensation for the authorities' request for residents to run their taps for five minutes before initial use.

Resident Samantha Guo said they have gathered more than 61 signatures from residents, and they may be filing a petition.

"There are people who're affected by this -- (we) can't sleep, (we) don't drink (water from our tap, and we) go to (our) parents' place to shower," she said, adding that she would be satisfied if the affected tank was replaced.

Resident Eric Khoo said: "There's some sincerity from the MP to help us with some clarification. But overall, there're still a lot of unanswered questions and a lot more queries among the residents".

-CNA/wk

 

[shOUTloud]

Now the details are out. The town council knew about the body at 10am and told the residents at 5pm! No wonder they are angry. Fucking 7 hours to tell the residents. This Soon Min Sin has to be sacked to set an example to the rest. Nonsense management.

 

[leoman]

samatha sure can lead. she can lead a townhall meeting.
its d people's power. smart n good of her "2 push hard", juz after tis "eye-opener" election

People should not be afraid of their governments. Governments should be afraid of their people!
.

 

[Bigfuck]

With more Samantha Guos daring to stand up and mobilize the people, the FAP has reason to be afraid. Indeed, a government that is afraid of its people will be forced to work harder to serve the people, not to mention the outrageous salaries its ministers have awarded themselves!

Send out the army and police! Arrest and torture the citizens! Sue them! We cannot have such dangerous Non-Lee chauvinists walking around! 200K removed by tanks is fine, courtesy of the puppet master LKY. You see? There are so many dogs in the corrupt system that if LHL were to seriously clean things up to run a country effectively rather than to oppress it efficiently will probably drive him to death. The sins of the father are borne by the children and grandchildren.

 

[Cruxx]

If I have to shoot 200000 students to save China from another 100 years of disorder, so be it!

 

[borom]

Is Samantha Guo local or FT.
If local, WP should recruit her-a natural grassroots activist.
How come so quiet from Penangnite Khaw-the new NDM and MP for Sembawang GRC?.

 

[theDoors]

[video=youtube;KdGRhRryvok]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KdGRhRryvok[/video]

 

[makapaaa]

Blk 686 will be zoned out of Woodlands in the next GE?

 

[makapaaa]

The corruption in the Leegime is probably more massive than our widest imagination!

<TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%"><TBODY><TR class=msghead><TD><TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0><TBODY><TR class=msghead vAlign=top><TD class=msgF width="1%" noWrap align=right>From: </TD><TD class=msgFname width="68%" noWrap>kojakbt_89_ <NOBR></NOBR></TD><TD class=msgDate width="30%" noWrap align=right>9:01 pm </TD></TR><TR class=msghead><TD class=msgT height=20 width="1%" noWrap align=right>To: </TD><TD class=msgTname width="68%" noWrap>kojakbt_89_ <NOBR></NOBR></TD><TD class=msgNum noWrap align=right>(5 of 8) </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR><TR><TD class=msgleft rowSpan=4 width="1%"></TD><TD class=wintiny noWrap align=right>51406.5 in reply to 51406.1 </TD></TR><TR><TD height=8></TD></TR><TR><TD id=msgtxt_5 class=msgtxt>Sembawang Town Council is run by EM Services Pte Ltd ([URL="http://www.emservices.com.sg/"]http://www.emservices.com.sg[/URL]):
Our core business activity is Town management. We are the Managing Agent of 8 major Town Councils namely, East Coast, Jalan Besar, Pasir Ris – Punggol, Sembawang, Tampines, Tanjong Pagar, Holland – Bukit Panjang and West Coast. In total, we manage almost half a million HDB residential units, 16,000 commercial units (retail shops and office units), 9,000 market and food centre stalls and 360,000 carpark lots. We are the market leader with 56% market share.
Since our inception in 1988, EM Services Pte Ltd (EM Services) has been committed to delivering the highest standard of property management services. Founded as a joint venture between the Housing and Development Board and Keppel Land Limited, EM Services is now a leader in the field of property management services. Our premier range of services comprises property, engineering, contracts and project management in public housing, commercial and private properties.
EM Service is run by Ex-MP Ang Mong Seng.

</TD></TR><TR><TD></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%"><TBODY><TR><TD class=msgleft width="1%"></TD><TD class=msgopt width="24%" noWrap> Options</TD><TD class=msgrde width="50%" noWrap align=center>Reply</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

 

[cooleo]

Why do they even need to petition for a new water tank? Gahmen shud just replace with no ifs or buts.

 

[theDoors]

http://news.insing.com/tabloid/resi...mination-in-woodlands-water-tanks/id-50953700

Some six days after a corpse was discovered in a rooftop water tank in Woodlands, about 150 residents gathered in a dialogue session with the town council management to address concerns.--

Present at the dialogue session were also representatives from the Public Utilities Board (PUB) and representatives from the Residents’ Committee.--

Participating residents made some shocking revelations, saying that they have seen workers come out from the rooftop water tank room with bathing towels. The room has also turned into a hotspot for secret rendezvous with workers seen bringing women into the room.--

Residents suspect that workers bathed frequently in the water tanks, and in extreme cases, washed there after having sex with their female companions!--

If so, then residents in the block may have been drinking contaminated water for a long time without their knowledge!--

Source: Lianhe Wanbao, 22 May 2011.


日期:
22/05/2011
新闻来源:
联合晚报
记者:
沈斯涵
摄影:
吴伟国
http://news.omy.sg/News/Local+News/Story/OMYStory201105221525-246987.html

组屋水槽藏尸案：居民疑案发前　一直在喝脏水

对话会上惊爆客工披着毛巾进出天台，居民怀疑他们在水槽里冲凉，甚至幽会完事就地洗身，不禁提出质疑：案发前到底喝了多久的脏水？

水槽藏尸案发生后第6天，新任议员维凯昨午3时在兀兰73通道第686B座底层和约150名居民举行对话会。出席的还有三巴旺市镇理事会、公用事业局和居民委员会的代表。

居民在对话会上爆出，组屋天台成了客工幽会天堂，案发前还多次看到客工从组屋顶层下楼，怀疑他们“盗用”槽水。

客工时常肩搭毛巾从顶楼走下来；居民5大苦水包括担心屋价受影响、女佣有暗病等。完整报道，请翻阅22.05.2011《联合晚报》。

 

[theDoors]

Singapore Apartment Block Residents Voice Anger After Murder
Jessica Lim - Straits Times Indonesia | May 22, 2011

http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/seasia/apartment-block-residents-voice-anger/442387

 

[kingrant]

This is the kind of issues the PAP will lose votes over. Such issues transcend age and generational boundaries so remarks by MM and SM that older generation's interests must also be looked after sound hollow if effective actions are not forthcoming urgently. Indeed, in such a scenario as water pollution, or water poisoning, it will hurt everyone, but mostly the aged, the senior, the elderly and those who are chronically ill. Therefore what cock are these two old goats talking if no Minister dares to step forward to catch the hot potato? This is what I meant by stepping up and taking situational leadership rather then hide behind closed doors until it is safe to emerge from the woodwork (like WKS and Yaacob) and possibly still unable to resolve it.

Trying to appease residents' discontent by offering $10 is an insult. It really shows that the govt still do not understand the real issue which is that the perception of the people towards the potability of the water. What can $10 do? Buy disinfectant?

 

[bryanlim1972]

Why do they even need to petition for a new water tank? Gahmen shud just replace with no ifs or buts.

ifs and buts because it affects your tax dollars as well.

 

[lianbeng]

Samantha Guo knows how to ask for accountability, organising the residents to ask town council to answer the question why is there a lapse.

lianbeng says if u mess with the wrong person hell will break loose no need wait till 7th month - u r talking to a PRC woman - new citizen.