[h=2]Hawker centre patrons harassed & coerced to return trays[/h]
December 4th, 2012 |
Author: Contributions
Tampines Round Market
Every weekend morning, my family and I would go to Tampines round market (next to Block 139) to have our brunch or breakfast. It has always been a nice family get together and pleasant experience. I’m sure this is for most patrons there too.
Recently, we see a lot of orange T-shirt clad teens and what seemed like Town Council people too moving around the food market in hordes, reminding patrons, even in the middle of our meals, to clear our plates and utensils after we have finished our meals. What happened on this recent Sunday (2 Dec) really crossed the line. Returning utensils to the drop off points may be another one of the many trivial projects this particular million dollar paying civil servant rush to publicize currently to earn his KPI, but when patrons are harassed and coerced to do is seriously a violation of one’s rights and space.
In the middle of our meals, we were disrupted by loud shouting behind us amongst the food queues. An old man in his late 70s was scolding & warning an orange T shirt teen to stop harassing him to return the plates and tray as he has not finished his drinks. The old man was seriously visibly shaking with anger whilst the teen argued back indifferently that there was nothing wrong with his approach. Seeing the old man was in such a situation, I raised my voice loudly and commented that you can encourage people to return their trays but you cannot FORCE THEM! And I ended with WTF is happening to our nation when one now cannot even eat in peace! The old man then slowly staggered away with his tray, not before cussing the teen with, “You No Brains!!”
I have a few questions for those responsible for this new toy exercise:
a) Are patrons at hawker centers to be harassed and followed around to ensure they return their trays & plates, failing which they will be arrested or fined or both?
b) If someone sits at a table of uncleared dishes, is he/she obliged to clear the table too after his/her meal lest risking the harassment of these enforcers?
c) If returning plates and trays and what not are the latest social grace exercise to embrace our city state, then explain to us WHY did NEA increased the cleaning fees by more than doubled for hawker centers, since wouldn’t there be LESS to clean now with everyone “forced” to return their dishes after each meal? Or was it another blatant revenue exercise just like the IRS raising the HDB property tax without logic nor accountability? Are we gonna expect more of blatant dictatorial policies to come in this city state hereon?
Seriously, WTF is happening to our nation? Enough is ENOUGH!
.
Micahel Chan
.
Editor’s note: This letter has also been forwarded to NEA, Tampines Town Council and MP Mah Bow Tan (adviser to the grassroots in Tampines GRC) for comments.
Every weekend morning, my family and I would go to Tampines round market (next to Block 139) to have our brunch or breakfast. It has always been a nice family get together and pleasant experience. I’m sure this is for most patrons there too.
Recently, we see a lot of orange T-shirt clad teens and what seemed like Town Council people too moving around the food market in hordes, reminding patrons, even in the middle of our meals, to clear our plates and utensils after we have finished our meals. What happened on this recent Sunday (2 Dec) really crossed the line. Returning utensils to the drop off points may be another one of the many trivial projects this particular million dollar paying civil servant rush to publicize currently to earn his KPI, but when patrons are harassed and coerced to do is seriously a violation of one’s rights and space.
In the middle of our meals, we were disrupted by loud shouting behind us amongst the food queues. An old man in his late 70s was scolding & warning an orange T shirt teen to stop harassing him to return the plates and tray as he has not finished his drinks. The old man was seriously visibly shaking with anger whilst the teen argued back indifferently that there was nothing wrong with his approach. Seeing the old man was in such a situation, I raised my voice loudly and commented that you can encourage people to return their trays but you cannot FORCE THEM! And I ended with WTF is happening to our nation when one now cannot even eat in peace! The old man then slowly staggered away with his tray, not before cussing the teen with, “You No Brains!!”
I have a few questions for those responsible for this new toy exercise:
a) Are patrons at hawker centers to be harassed and followed around to ensure they return their trays & plates, failing which they will be arrested or fined or both?
b) If someone sits at a table of uncleared dishes, is he/she obliged to clear the table too after his/her meal lest risking the harassment of these enforcers?
c) If returning plates and trays and what not are the latest social grace exercise to embrace our city state, then explain to us WHY did NEA increased the cleaning fees by more than doubled for hawker centers, since wouldn’t there be LESS to clean now with everyone “forced” to return their dishes after each meal? Or was it another blatant revenue exercise just like the IRS raising the HDB property tax without logic nor accountability? Are we gonna expect more of blatant dictatorial policies to come in this city state hereon?
Seriously, WTF is happening to our nation? Enough is ENOUGH!
.
Micahel Chan
.
Editor’s note: This letter has also been forwarded to NEA, Tampines Town Council and MP Mah Bow Tan (adviser to the grassroots in Tampines GRC) for comments.
