SINGAPORE: Singapore's Law and Foreign Affairs Minister K Shanmugam has said that the country may need to consider new ways of dealing with conduct seen as a social nuisance.
He said this may require a legal framework which sets out what Singaporeans should avoid doing, so their behaviours do not unreasonably impact their neighbours.
In his latest
Facebook post, Mr Shanmugam spoke of a recurrent issue which he's come
across, when what happens in one HDB flat impacts the others.
Mr Shanmugam cited a lady who said the singing and drumming from her neighbour's flat kept her awake.
He
said such issues are not new, but the sense is that people seem to be
less willing to put up with such conduct now, compared to some years
ago.
At present, Mr Shanmugam said there is no satisfactory legal solution to deal with these problems.
Most of such conduct is social nuisance, but not criminal.
Mr Shanmugam said the second approach is for residents to go to the civil courts, which is not really feasible either.
Thus, there may be a need to come up with new norms.
MP Christopher De Souza said the proposal aims at filling a gap.
"Presently,
if there is an unfortunate breakdown in neighbourliness, there is
redress through the criminal law, for example through a Magistrate's
complaint... Alternatively, the person could seek civil redress in a
Court of Law. Neither option is ideal if we want to reconcile
differences," said Mr De Souza.
"Therefore, if any framework is
brought in, I would sincerely hope that one of its key aims would be to
reconcile differences and mend ties," he added.
- CNA/cc
what lao - HDB cannot cook curry err... must got timing errr...
The difference is between Singaporean and foreigners.
Singaporeans know the local rules and etiquette. There are only a few miscreants years ago.
Now foreigns are immediately planted from here from an alien culture. They do in the flats here what they do in their villages there. They don't see anything wrong.
Saying things like this is avoided by government.
come on lah - i go outstantion other countries also respect their laws. they cum here have to use a little bit of common snese - unless reeally theya re swaku. or act stupid either way i odnt care. gahemne see - these talents areh? chealp dirt like skate arh!
Going outstation don't count. Tourist, visitors always quai quai one.
Stay overseas, and you will find your local habits die hard, and you will be saying "In Singapore we.....like that one." to the people there.
me? go voerseas work finish go back slp already. think i like them places meh?
Takes time for people to appreciate the cultural differences ah. It takes patience from the locals and more observance from the foreigners. In the end, its about peaceful co-habitation in a small confined space.
Unless you guys are thinking the way of the Japanese culture of group over individual. The Tatemae and Honne, the unspoken rules.
lol
Problem is that Sg is not a monoculture society.
pee arse shit thos got real problem only