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Coffeeshop Chit Chat - A Hawker's plight against greedy PAPee</TD><TD id=msgunetc noWrap align=right> </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE class=msgtable cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="96%"><TBODY><TR><TD class=msg vAlign=top><TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%"><TBODY><TR class=msghead><TD class=msgbfr1 width="1%"> </TD><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>Fkapore <NOBR></NOBR> </TD><TD class=msgDate width="30%" noWrap align=right>7:07 am </TD></TR><TR class=msghead><TD class=msgT height=20 width="1%" noWrap align=right>To: </TD><TD class=msgTname width="68%" noWrap>ALL <NOBR></NOBR></TD><TD class=msgNum noWrap align=right> (1 of 3) </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR><TR><TD class=msgleft rowSpan=4 width="1%"> </TD><TD class=wintiny noWrap align=right>35014.1 </TD></TR><TR><TD height=8></TD></TR><TR><TD class=msgtxt>Plight of a hawker charged in court over S&C arrears owed to PAP town council
June 23rd, 2010 |
Author: Your Correspondent
By Lu Yu Bin
[Original article in Chinese published on Lianhe Zaobao here. Translation by Andrew Neo]
Recently, the first of 16 town council’s management report was released showing that the constituencies of the Prime Minister, Senior Minister and Minister Mentor have performed the best with the opposition behind. Assessment of key indicators including the HDB area cleanliness, maintenance, elevator, and the situation of arrears of charges.
Hougang Town Council performed poorly in the number of households owing S&C arrears. Mr Low Thia Khiang said Hougang Town Council allowed the residents to pay by instalments out of compassion. I think the practice of Hougang Town Council has a human touch.
Last month, my brother was arrested by the police in his home for arrears owed to Bishan-Toa Payoh Town Council.
Over the past few years, due to the economic downturn and fierce competition coupld with the gradual worsening of my brother’s hand and foot function, his hawker business has gone from bad to worse. He has children in school, his wife works part-time and both earns less than $1,500 in total. As they do not know how to apply for financial assistance, they end up owing the Town Council S&C charges.
However, the Town Council did not close the case on compassionate grounds, and regardless of whether the residents can read the warning in English letters or summons.
Two days before my brother attended court, my family helped him repay some of the arrears including the $420 administrative fees, the remaining arrears, interest and service charges. He has to repay the sum first before the Town Council will allow him to pay $150 monthly in five instalments. The Town Council also charge the total amount of administrative fees and fines as high as nearly $600, equivalent to one and a half of the charges! No wonder my brother can never settle the outstanding S&C charges completely.
Some people may say needy residents should seek their MP for help, but a MP meet their constituents only once week. How much time one must wait to see their MP? Furthermore, one must queue up to see the MP and may not necessarily reach his turn.
Two days later, I accompanied my brother to the court to report. The court staff gave us a document, asking us to return for trial in accordance with the report, before sending us away. It is only after the inquiry that I learn that my brother need not go and I can attend the proceedings on his behalf. My brother has to close his stall for one day, losing hundreds of dollars of income and taxi fares.
The court papers show that if a settlement agreement is reached with the Town Council, the Town Council may apply for exemption of court appearance, but many are brought to court because they are English illiterate and cannot comprehend the letters sent to them.
The working language of the Singapore government is English. Singaporeans who owe the government money and do not understand English at the same time will suffer a big loss.
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By Lu Yu Bin
[Original article in Chinese published on Lianhe Zaobao here. Translation by Andrew Neo]
Recently, the first of 16 town council’s management report was released showing that the constituencies of the Prime Minister, Senior Minister and Minister Mentor have performed the best with the opposition behind. Assessment of key indicators including the HDB area cleanliness, maintenance, elevator, and the situation of arrears of charges.
Hougang Town Council performed poorly in the number of households owing S&C arrears. Mr Low Thia Khiang said Hougang Town Council allowed the residents to pay by instalments out of compassion. I think the practice of Hougang Town Council has a human touch.
Last month, my brother was arrested by the police in his home for arrears owed to Bishan-Toa Payoh Town Council.
Over the past few years, due to the economic downturn and fierce competition coupld with the gradual worsening of my brother’s hand and foot function, his hawker business has gone from bad to worse. He has children in school, his wife works part-time and both earns less than $1,500 in total. As they do not know how to apply for financial assistance, they end up owing the Town Council S&C charges.
However, the Town Council did not close the case on compassionate grounds, and regardless of whether the residents can read the warning in English letters or summons.
Two days before my brother attended court, my family helped him repay some of the arrears including the $420 administrative fees, the remaining arrears, interest and service charges. He has to repay the sum first before the Town Council will allow him to pay $150 monthly in five instalments. The Town Council also charge the total amount of administrative fees and fines as high as nearly $600, equivalent to one and a half of the charges! No wonder my brother can never settle the outstanding S&C charges completely.
Some people may say needy residents should seek their MP for help, but a MP meet their constituents only once week. How much time one must wait to see their MP? Furthermore, one must queue up to see the MP and may not necessarily reach his turn.
Two days later, I accompanied my brother to the court to report. The court staff gave us a document, asking us to return for trial in accordance with the report, before sending us away. It is only after the inquiry that I learn that my brother need not go and I can attend the proceedings on his behalf. My brother has to close his stall for one day, losing hundreds of dollars of income and taxi fares.
The court papers show that if a settlement agreement is reached with the Town Council, the Town Council may apply for exemption of court appearance, but many are brought to court because they are English illiterate and cannot comprehend the letters sent to them.
The working language of the Singapore government is English. Singaporeans who owe the government money and do not understand English at the same time will suffer a big loss.
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