Only those in the enforcement line would agree with me. There are always bad guys among the good guys.

Anyway, they are humans just like us. They won’t commit criminal activities unless they are being paid by locals(syndicate). See that??

I just feel that Human has their so call rights.The Dead should also have their right..The Dead are also past singaporean who had contributed in one way or another.They deserve to rest in peace.They do not mind and do not complain about human moving in to become their neighbour but that does not mean Human has their Rights to despise them by feeling down graded or low class to stay near them.
And hope no one uses this excuse to expedite the closure of these graves instead of the relocating the dormitories elsewhere and start building flats or condos..Spare some thoughts for our Deads.Some deads just love to be buried and not cremated becos there is a saying”Lu Thoo Wee Arn”and not “Sze Wu Chang shen chze Tee”

“Show more concern on our singaporean who sleep in the parks,open area etc who risk being picpocket or robbed,face the authority’s spotcheck etc…Many homeless citizen need your attention”, unquote.

A good call my friend !

The foreign workers that i know are all very resilient, able to adapt to any environment and are real survivors. They are not softies neither are they very demanding.

By the way, graveyards were preferred over temples by travellers in the olden days in China and i surmise it was/is because the deads do not molest, rape, rob, cheat, exploit and bully the living beings.

patriot

Terence, that is a cop-out. There are almost a million of them. And for sure, some of that million will not mind. But does that make it right? I think we have to be bigger than that, more compassionate than that.

As you said, the problem is the policy. Without first ensuring that there is infrastructure enough to cater to these foreigners, the govt has opened its doors to them – a million of them. That’s an astounding number.

And without the infrastructure, we house them wherever we can find space, even in containers in ulu, mosquito-infested places and in cemeteries. It is sad to me to hear things like, “As long as the conditions inside are ok…” and “As long as the workers are ok with it…”

The simple principle we should live by is this: Do not do to others what you do not wish others to do to you.

And by this, none of us would live in ulu, mosquito-infested areas, or in cemeteries or in containers.

No?

Isn’t it like asking the citizen if they mind having CPF Life when they don’t even have a choice of whether to have it or not ? Don’t even need to object and dis-object.

Rather than saying if they don’t mind at all (seriously you asking the foreigners who are openly exploited by employers ), the question is “Do they even have a choice to raise objection ? “

The fact is, you should be asking Ian if he might stay in such a place if he was WORKING OVERSEAS for a finite period of time. why would you bring in ‘family’ at all?? totally apple and orange.

On one hand, which Singaporean would honestly want to stay in a dorm next to a graveyard? On the other hand, are there any alternatives for these FWs? Is housing these dorms next to HDB estates a source of more social unrest and disenchantment with the government?

If there are no alternatives, then the next natural question would be: Why is there no more space? Is it due to over development? I think when you think of it this way, it is quite clear where the source of the problem lies… it is a policy issue really, and has a lot to do with the government.

Ian made a valid point: What are the cultural implications for the FWs staying there? Is it a strong sentiment? And if they don’t mind at all, then I have no reason to object really.

“The main issue to me should not be about the location of housing near the cemeteries and columbariums but whether the conditions inside meet the kind of standards we would allow ourselves as citizens to be subjected to.”

So, if the dormitory was situated in a desert or in the middle of the jungle, it is ok as long as “the conditions inside meet the kind of standards we would allow ourselves as citizens to be subjected to”? What utter nonsense. Would any Singaporean buy a house if it was situated in such an area? Would you allow your children to grow up in such an area?

You talk about having lived among cemeteries and all but you have missed an important point – you and all S’poreans have a choice in this. The foreign workers do not. Why?

1. The low pay they receive barely is enough to keep them alive.

2. The moment they’re brought into S’pore, they have no choice in where they are made to live. So, we see them being housed in containers, in shophouses crammed together, in worksites which are sub-standard, etc.

For a first world country and one which repeatedly boasts of being a compassionate society, housing workers in a cemetery is by no means humane. Not by any stretch of the imagination.

For all of us S’poreans, we have a choice of where we want to live.

These foreign workers have choices thrusted upon them.

You sounded like a sensible person to me though I suspect you lack a sense of realism. You ask a question and attempted with greyish answers, i.e. you did not answer your own question.

You asked yourself if you would personally mind staying in such a place, you bring in your NS life and your school life. The fact is, would you, together with your family,. young and old, stay in such a place, as a home? Even if you said yes and know, I reckon both the answers are half hearted. I confessed, mine will also be the same as yours.

Personally, I feel there are better places than within a cemetery. I am no saint and I do not know where exactly is good. I am only an ordinary Singaporean, not earning the pay like the almighty ministers, whom are wise and learned. My guess is that there aren’t enough consideration placed on this issue during the planning stage. Can a group of wise men in the various authorities not brainstormed enough to derive a better decision on the final location? What were the key considerations? We really have no means to get the answers.

The main issue to me should not be about the location of housing near the cemeteries and columbariums but whether the conditions inside meet the kind of standards we would allow ourselves as citizens to be subjected to.

This isn’t an issue of space but whether standards of health, safety and sanitation are met.

Now, to preempt the retort about whether I myself would personally mind staying in such a place, I will say this:

1. Half of my NS life was spent in the vicinity of cemeteries and columbariums. Also, I have had to walk through them as part of my training.

2. I studied for 4 years in a school located right beside a columbarium. Our teacher would bring us to the columbarium to explore and learn.

Now, there is the matter of sensitivity. I am unsure about the cultural implications for the foreign workers living in these dormitories situated beside the cemeteries and columbariums. If there are indeed cultural and religious implications, then we should accord them respect and not house them there. Where, of course is another question.

Another thing, I don’t think it is just about the fact that the dorm is located near cemeteries and columbariums but for far away it is from everywhere else. That place is really quite ulu. I know. I just did my reservist there. Even walked pass the place.

Mental thought experiment” What if we built the dorm near the tombs located near Macritchie. There are a lot of private terrace, semi-detacheds and bungalows there. Would be being beside dead people be an issue if the dorm was on prime land?

They lower construction cost, but that saving do not benefit us. We get more and more expensive housing each year and government earn more and more and brag about more market subsidies.

And scandalous monies government earned was given to Ho Ching to bet in wall street. Ho Ching a serial failure since micro-polis, global crossing, Shin Corp, Merryll, Barclay…etc.

And also to those idiot in GIC that cannot outperform S&P.

If FWs are gone, companies would have to raise wages to attract locals. And eventually it will be attractive enough that locals jump onboard.

And PAP would need to sell land at lower price, effectively transferring our monies back to us. It will reduce Ho Ching’s purse when she visit wall street casino.

Good for everyone.

Then PAP would not have excuse to accuse our young people lazy and choosy….etc

Can you see that readers? PAP is really the problem.