<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>Trouble in the neighbourhood
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<!-- START OF : div id="storytext"--><!-- more than 4 paragraphs -->LAST Tuesday, I lodged a police report after I was molested by a foreign worker near my home at night. It happened while I was walking my dog along Upper Changi Road, near Tanah Merah MRT. The foreign worker, who reeked of alcohol, exploited the fact that the area was deserted and attacked me as we were walking past each other.
I fought back and chased him around the residential estate, shouting for help. But no one came out to help me although there were residents sitting in the front yard of their homes, playing mahjong. Thanks to a passerby, a middle-aged Singaporean who stopped to help, I managed to catch the culprit. But he escaped before the police arrived.
My main concern relates to the safety of women who live in residential neighbourhoods such as Tanah Merah, where foreign workers congregate after work, and usually engage in beer and liquor-drinking sessions.
Before I became a victim, I had noticed groups of foreign workers often leering at women walking past. Some made lewd gestures. My question is why the Government or related agencies allow these workers to congregate and consume large amounts of alcohol - which usually leads to trouble and indecent behaviour - in residential areas.
=> Illegal assembly is a chargeable offence only if you hold a pink IC. Please note this before compraining hor! And till some minister's daughter is kena fingered or poked, dun expect the Familee to give a damn!
I find it increasingly hard to feel safe as a woman in Singapore. Have a male escort, you say. But it is impossible nowadays to take this safety precaution all the time because of our hectic lifestyles.
As a student of the National University of Singapore, I agree that freedom of movement is a universal right. But, is it right to endow freedom to workers who terrorise and rob us of the freedom we are entitled to in our own country, and especially where we live?
I also understand that these foreign workers, like the molester who attacked me, contribute to our economy.
But is safety a worthwhile trade-off?
Finally, I am dismayed over the lack of 'kampung spirit' - a term Singaporeans trumpet - which went missing when I was attacked.
Tyla Teng Ning (Ms)
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<!-- START OF : div id="storytext"--><!-- more than 4 paragraphs -->LAST Tuesday, I lodged a police report after I was molested by a foreign worker near my home at night. It happened while I was walking my dog along Upper Changi Road, near Tanah Merah MRT. The foreign worker, who reeked of alcohol, exploited the fact that the area was deserted and attacked me as we were walking past each other.
I fought back and chased him around the residential estate, shouting for help. But no one came out to help me although there were residents sitting in the front yard of their homes, playing mahjong. Thanks to a passerby, a middle-aged Singaporean who stopped to help, I managed to catch the culprit. But he escaped before the police arrived.
My main concern relates to the safety of women who live in residential neighbourhoods such as Tanah Merah, where foreign workers congregate after work, and usually engage in beer and liquor-drinking sessions.
Before I became a victim, I had noticed groups of foreign workers often leering at women walking past. Some made lewd gestures. My question is why the Government or related agencies allow these workers to congregate and consume large amounts of alcohol - which usually leads to trouble and indecent behaviour - in residential areas.
=> Illegal assembly is a chargeable offence only if you hold a pink IC. Please note this before compraining hor! And till some minister's daughter is kena fingered or poked, dun expect the Familee to give a damn!
I find it increasingly hard to feel safe as a woman in Singapore. Have a male escort, you say. But it is impossible nowadays to take this safety precaution all the time because of our hectic lifestyles.
As a student of the National University of Singapore, I agree that freedom of movement is a universal right. But, is it right to endow freedom to workers who terrorise and rob us of the freedom we are entitled to in our own country, and especially where we live?
I also understand that these foreign workers, like the molester who attacked me, contribute to our economy.
But is safety a worthwhile trade-off?
Finally, I am dismayed over the lack of 'kampung spirit' - a term Singaporeans trumpet - which went missing when I was attacked.
Tyla Teng Ning (Ms)
