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http://www.tremeritus.com/2014/08/08/fewer-flats-indeed-are-flying-sg-flag-for-nday/
[h=2]Fewer flats indeed are flying SG flag for NDay[/h]
August 8th, 2014 |
Author: Editorial
Over the last few days, some readers have been sending photos of their
estates to TRE, showing that not many flats are, indeed, flying the Singapore
flag for National Day this year.
A reader from Bukit Batok took the following photos near Ave 4:
Only 1 flag in this block
2 flags in this block. The 3 columns of flags are put
up by RCs.
Another reader from Jurong area sent in the following photos. He estimated
that “very much less than 5%” of flats put up. Most didn’t:
Saw 1 flag in the nearest block
Saw 1 flag (left side)
Those flags at lower floors and the smaller flags are
put up by RCs
Saw 2 flags
Didn't see any flags in this block
Didn't see any either
Yet another reader wrote in:
I’m from Lau CB’s GRC. Sending you 7 photos – 6 from Queenstown and 1 from
Cantonment. I can tell you at Spottiswoode Park, it’s even
less!
His photos:
Queenstown - 1 flag
Queenstown - 2 or more flags, hidden by trees
Queenstown - 3 flags
Queenstown - 6 flags
Queenstown - 0 flag
Queenstown - 1 flag
Cantonment - 6 flags, 1 hung wrongly
Some of the PAP MPs acknowledged that there is a drop in the number of
Singaporeans flying the national flag from their flats (‘PAP MPs try to explain why fewer flats flying SG flag‘).
Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC MP Zainal Sapari said some RCs in his GRC have stopped
actively decorating housing blocks for National Day since two years ago. “We
feel it would be good if residents do it themselves so that it’s more
heartfelt,” he said.
Tampines GRC MP Baey Yam Keng said a resident told him he did not hang a flag
as he did not want to be the odd one out.
Then there is Dr Chia Shi-Lu, a walkover MP from Tanjong Pagar GRC. Dr Chia
blamed it on the new flat design. He said newer blocks in Queenstown do not have
common corridors facing the outside, making it harder to display flags.
MP for Sembawang GRC Ellen Lee said, “RCs still have to step in as most
residents are either busy, don’t know where to get a flag or how to hang
it.”
David Tan Kok Kheng wrote a passionate letter (‘I urge Singaporeans to fly our flag and be proud!‘), urging
Singaporeans to be patriotic and fly the flag.
He wrote, “When I walk around my estate in Tampines, I find that many
Singaporeans are not displaying our flag. Other than a few blocks decorated with
flags by grassroots members, fewer blocks are adorned with symbols of our
national pride this year. I visited another part of Singapore and observed the
same trend.”
In fact, he said that he is the only one displaying the flag in his
block.
“Could it be that they are demonstrating their unhappiness with life in
Singapore? Or could it be a show of unhappiness with the Government, which they
equate with the country?” he asked.
He tried to remind Singaporeans that national pride and political affiliation
are separate issues.
“We will be a laughing stock if we continually complain about the influx of
foreigners, yet do not even bother to fly our flag in the lead-up to National
Day. How would other countries view us? Would they regard us as a country united
on the surface but divided at the core?” he added.
He urged fellow Singaporeans to fly the flag and be proud Singaporeans.
[h=2]Fewer flats indeed are flying SG flag for NDay[/h]
Over the last few days, some readers have been sending photos of their
estates to TRE, showing that not many flats are, indeed, flying the Singapore
flag for National Day this year.
A reader from Bukit Batok took the following photos near Ave 4:
Only 1 flag in this block
2 flags in this block. The 3 columns of flags are put
up by RCs.
Another reader from Jurong area sent in the following photos. He estimated
that “very much less than 5%” of flats put up. Most didn’t:
Saw 1 flag in the nearest block
Saw 1 flag (left side)
Those flags at lower floors and the smaller flags are
put up by RCs
Saw 2 flags
Didn't see any flags in this block
Didn't see any either
Yet another reader wrote in:
I’m from Lau CB’s GRC. Sending you 7 photos – 6 from Queenstown and 1 from
Cantonment. I can tell you at Spottiswoode Park, it’s even
less!
Queenstown - 1 flag
Queenstown - 2 or more flags, hidden by trees
Queenstown - 3 flags
Queenstown - 6 flags
Queenstown - 0 flag
Queenstown - 1 flag
Cantonment - 6 flags, 1 hung wrongly
Some of the PAP MPs acknowledged that there is a drop in the number of
Singaporeans flying the national flag from their flats (‘PAP MPs try to explain why fewer flats flying SG flag‘).
Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC MP Zainal Sapari said some RCs in his GRC have stopped
actively decorating housing blocks for National Day since two years ago. “We
feel it would be good if residents do it themselves so that it’s more
heartfelt,” he said.
Tampines GRC MP Baey Yam Keng said a resident told him he did not hang a flag
as he did not want to be the odd one out.
Then there is Dr Chia Shi-Lu, a walkover MP from Tanjong Pagar GRC. Dr Chia
blamed it on the new flat design. He said newer blocks in Queenstown do not have
common corridors facing the outside, making it harder to display flags.
MP for Sembawang GRC Ellen Lee said, “RCs still have to step in as most
residents are either busy, don’t know where to get a flag or how to hang
it.”
David Tan Kok Kheng wrote a passionate letter (‘I urge Singaporeans to fly our flag and be proud!‘), urging
Singaporeans to be patriotic and fly the flag.
He wrote, “When I walk around my estate in Tampines, I find that many
Singaporeans are not displaying our flag. Other than a few blocks decorated with
flags by grassroots members, fewer blocks are adorned with symbols of our
national pride this year. I visited another part of Singapore and observed the
same trend.”
In fact, he said that he is the only one displaying the flag in his
block.
“Could it be that they are demonstrating their unhappiness with life in
Singapore? Or could it be a show of unhappiness with the Government, which they
equate with the country?” he asked.
He tried to remind Singaporeans that national pride and political affiliation
are separate issues.
“We will be a laughing stock if we continually complain about the influx of
foreigners, yet do not even bother to fly our flag in the lead-up to National
Day. How would other countries view us? Would they regard us as a country united
on the surface but divided at the core?” he added.
He urged fellow Singaporeans to fly the flag and be proud Singaporeans.
