Update: (18 JAN 2010) The homeless in Sembawang Park have been given proper lodging. Some of them met with MCYS this morning. All of those who lived in the tents have moved – voluntarily – to flats. TOC will keep our readers updated.
Joshua Chiang and Andrew Loh
How the homeless park-dry their clothes
They have been camped out there for months, but no one from the government agencies seem to have known about them – perhaps until The Online Citizen’s report on 13 January. TOC had reported that some 15 homeless families were camped out in tents at Sembawang Park.
Three days after TOC’s revelation, on 16 January, Saturday, at around 10pm, officers from the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports (MCYS), and NParks, together with some 10 policemen, swooped down on the park.
When TOC arrived at the scene at about 10.50pm, there were two police cars and a pick-up van. Some of the homeless were seen dismantling their tents. When queried about why they were being asked to do so, the NParks officers said the campers had broken “rules and regulations”, even though most of them still had valid camping permits.
The summons referred to Section 9(1)(a) of the Parks and Trees Regulation Act 2005 which makes it an offence to conduct a barbeque without a permit, among other things. The camping permit does not include permission to barbeque, apparently.
The officers insisted repeatedly that this writer identified those among the campers who were homeless and that their names and particulars be given to the officers. This writer declined to do so.
TOC then asked if there were any representatives from MCYS. A female officer stepped forward. On being questioned, she would only say that those who were homeless would be brought to an “institution”. When TOC probed further on what this “institution” is, she disclosed that she was referring to Angsana Home, located at Buangkok Green, next to the Institute of Mental Health. The home is part of Pelangi Village, a purpose-built Social Welfare Complex and houses the elderly destitute and ex-drug addicts.
Location of Pelangi Village on a Singapore map
TOC understands from the campers that Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, minister in charge of MCYS, had visited the camping site last Thursday afternoon. In the evening of the same day, two of the families were told to pack up and were then effectively carted off to Angsana Home.
When they arrived at the home, they had to pass through a security gate which could only be unlocked with a pass by one of the attending officers, who claimed to be from MCYS. Once they were brought to the room where they would stay, they were told that they could not leave the premises. To do so, they would have to make a request.
According to one of the families, when they requested for food, they were given two pieces of roti prata to be shared among the family of six persons. The mattresses they were provided were also in bad condition. Some of them had rashes the next morning after having slept on them.
Two of those locked in had to go to work in the morning and asked to be let out of the premises. Their request was denied. Eventually, one of them told TOC she lost her job because she was unable to show up for work. When TOC asked the officer about this, she said she “guarantees” that those who needed to go to work would be allowed to.
Still, TOC told her, it isn’t quite right for the authorities to forceably keep these people behind locked gates and to confine them. After all, they have not committed any offence, neither are they criminals who deserved to be locked up. Further, the homeless do not seem to have been given a choice of deciding whether they wanted to be housed at Angsana Home.
According to the lady from MCYS, the stay at Angsana would be a temporary one, until MCYS finds a place for them. She said it would be “for a day or two”. It is hard to persuade people you want to help with such complete lack of coordination and heavy-handedness, TOC told her. Not with police cars with lights flashing, officers from the government ordering tents to be dismantled and summons being issued.
We suggested that there were two choices – one, the campers would be allowed to stay for another day or two while MCYS looked for a proper housing option for them; or two, if they were to be housed temporarily at Angsana, they have to be assured of freedom of movement. By this time, a senior female officer had taken over the discussion.
She agreed to let the campers stay at Sembawang Park until Monday, 18 January, when six of the campers will meet with her at the MCYS office for further discussions to resolve the situation. She said she will push for the HDB to issue “interim flats” to the campers in the meantime, or to see if any Voluntary Welfare Organisation could take them in temporarily.
TOC spoke to some of the homeless about a week earlier and we understand that some of them had applied for rental flats with the HDB. However, their applications were rejected for various reasons. Some have also paid repeated visits to the HDB to apply for these flats.
When asked where these homeless people would go if they were chased away, a senior officer from NParks said, “We will help.” One of the campers retorted, “By putting us in Angsana?” The officer looked away and replied, “That is the help.”
TOC understands that a summon for overstaying could mean a $200 fine, something which the homeless can hardly afford. Campers are only allowed to camp for a maximum of eight days in a month, with consecutive-days camping fixed at a maximum of five days.
We asked if the authorities would consider waiving the fines from the summons issued to the homeless campers. The MCYS senior officer said she would speak to NParks as, she said, it was not in her power to decide.
It was almost midnight before the situation was finally resolved – at least for now. Only five out of the 20 or so tents were left standing – and none of the homeless was carted off to Angsana Home.
Related posts:
- Raiding the homeless – part two
- Homeless in the parks – a symptom of flawed housing policies?
- Homeless people are “defective”, needs “rehabilitation”?
- Singapore — the modern middle kingdom?
- ST Forum letter on homeless situation and official reply
Bravo, TOC, for giving the voiceless a voice! I’m quite sure this case will be used as a training scenario for senior civil servants soon :-) Hopefully, they’ll get the right lessons out of it.. Good job again!
Reminds me of how OCP evicts residents in the show Robocop 3
Be careful of unintended consequences TOC.
You had the best of intentions when publicising the plight of the people in the park.
But, the result a raid.
It’s hard being a caring activist. All the best.
next step to locking up the homeless….. remember Auschwitz lesson for all those “economically useless”…
I think the authorities are always able to get away with using force because of the lack of knowledge on the part of the so-called offending party. In this case, the homeless camp-dwellers were made to belief that they have broken the rules because they were barbequing in the camp site.
This may be true but they should have questioned the enforcers why it took them so long to tell them this was wrong and why weren’t there any earlier warnings issued to addressed the breaking of this rule? Why were their reapplication approved if they had done wrong?
It is the mindset of Singaporeans that when told by law enforces that they have committed a breach of something, they simply believe without question.
Singaporeans must take a leaf from TOC. Not only did it ask the enforcers for the reasons behind such an eviction but also to question the enforcers on their rights to imprison these so-called homeless offenders; and; it is the asking of these questions that caught the enforcers out and forced them to retreat and relook the enforcement process.
I would have questioned the enforcers whether the homeless camp-dwellers have broken any law, and if they did, shouldn’t they be arrested and thrown into prison instead of being sent to a shelter. And, if they had not broken any law, then what right has the enforcers to move these people?
If these dwellers have broken the camping rule, then the penalty for such breach applies. What right has the enforcers to jump to conclusion that these are not campers but are homeless camp-dwellers taking advantage of the camping loopholes?
Why must they pay for these loopholes – the fault of incompetent rule-makers?!
So what is the point of Vivian Bala visiting the site? Empathy? Looks more like asserting his multimillionaire authority on these lesser mortals by calling the police & putting them in a pseudo jail, shelter indeed.
Just ask the Genting staff to move out of those Tao Payoh blocks & get these folks a place to stay there. Genting folks can stay at the empty hotels in their resort.
Well done TOC, keep up the good work of highlighting these issues.
How it works, probably Vivian and his ministry was given some “orders” to do something about it from above. TOC should take this a step further, question the reasons why they are put in the home, why so long for a rental flat, what other alternatives if no rental flats are immediately available to them, why are they homeless. etc. The government is in a fix, they can’t solve this problem of Singaporeans struggling, and it will become a thorn in their side come voting time, well done.
the raid on the campers shows a typical ostrich mentality of this current self-serving miw government that is get rid of the homeless and justify their belief that there is no homeless singaporeans. When you don’t see it then it implies that it isn’t there.
to those who has a job and a house now and couldn’t care less about voting blindly for these self-serving miw, if you think that it will not happen to you think again.
It is just like cancer. We know there is this thing call cancer. When you don’t have it now, it doesn’t mean you will not get it later. Hence, it is in our own interest that we find out more about cancer and how to prevent it from happening to us.
Vivian is good at integrating new citizens/PR into singapore at the expense of taxpayer’s money but is completely incapable of ensuring the basic needs of native singaporean are looked after. What kind of supposedly talents does this minister possessed ? Talented at bootlicking to his masters and cannot make his own decisions perhaps ?
This is a standard government tactic. They will punish the ones you want to help and care about, so that you will think twice about “bothering” the authorities again.
Vote for change.
“Talented at bootlicking to his masters & cannot make his own decisions perhaps ?”
Duh ?!! No brainer. Isn’t this an OBVIOUS for decades now?
What #3 A Tan says is true. TOC, u may “think” you are helping but instead this caused really bad consequences. This is a double edged sword.
You reported it to highlight the plight of our unfortunate citizens and to further expose our heartless MIW- a given. Then these evil zombies (MIW) gets alerted, maybe a tinge embarassed but nothing a few high end bird’s nest soup bought with their multi million “heart” earned salary won’t soothe.
After reporting, more expose to confirm how really tyrannic and dictatorial our police really is by “arresting” the homeless and locking them up. This is SERIOUSLY absurd and lawless. If they did such nonsense in a real first world country, it would have had been a field day for the media & legal matter.
What type of international laws are they talking about? BS!
TOC, you can now help by publicizing this matter asap , globally if you can.
MOST Vitally, VOTE These MIW OUT!!!
NO brainer, no discussion ever needed!
Just DO IT!
The fact is there are more homeless Singaporeans every day.
Everywhere I look, I find a Singaporean without a home.
I don’t think they can house all these homeless Singaporeans.
wow..that was rather harsh, wasnt it? What’s with the police etc?
Talk about getting kicked in the mouth, after you’re down and out…
You see, now you can envision why Singapore urgently needs alternative news-media and “strong cum muscular” opposition parties to voice out for the under-privilege and marginalize feeble citizens!
Thank you so much, “the online citizen” for a job well done!
“OPERATION COLD HEART”!!
Why conduct raid at night? Why not during the day time?
$$$million dollars minister who visited the site, could have
organised an orderly, humane relocation of the homeless .
But, instead they are treated like criminals!! You don’t have to
waste tax-payers money by sending so many of your men to arrest them!
Where on earth have you relocate them? Not in a cage for animals??
Disgusting, Shamless imbeciles!!!
I believe that while there is a minority who cares the society , the majority have not understood the need to think for the
society when they only think about Self Interest.
Everyone needs to think of Self interest. But Extrem Self Interest with no regard for society is bad. Extreme self interest
that makes one sabotage the society for personal gains can lead many to suffer.
Take a hypothetical scenario: a country lost war to another country who occupied it. The conquering dictator wants to know
who are those who dissent and could plan an attack to overthrow him or regain control of the country. He sees a healthy
supply of extreme self-interest low lives who are wiling to sacrifice the rest of society for personal gains, he hires them
paying them gold peanuts for intelligece supplied. He use them as hackers and assassins, those who like to come from behind.
oh, its just a hypothetical scenario but the message is clear. We need to care for the society when meeting our self
interest. Else many evil low lives could hide in sheeps skin and destroy the society from within just for personal gains /
self interest.
I wonder why so many congratulation messages to TOC when their expose caused great problems for the homeless.
Yes, according to the article, the situation has been “resolved” but one wonders if the homeless had to gone through these inconvenience of raiding and one even lost a job. As we know in Singapore, it is very tough to find a job for locals due to our pro-foreigner job market.
It would be best if TOC can work with VWO to help house these homeless people after what you’ve done.
In future, when doing an expose, please think of the consequences. At least withheld vital information like location of the people involved.
Will TOC approach social welfare agencies and NUS social work department for their views.
It is going to look like PAP will not allow TOC to capitalise or take credit for highlighting the problems of the homeless because it would mean simply that PAP is going to lose face for not even knowing that there are indeed homeless people in Singapore for one reason or another.
I am sure next the Govt will go hand-in-hand with MSM into defensive mode to debunk the truth either to make these homeless people appear to be mere opportunists hoping that the authorities will allow them to move into cheaper homes without going through the normal channels or to put it like what LKY has said recently “That is their problem of their own making”.
I am quite sure our PAP Ministers will be particularly incensed especially when someone alleges that there are still some Singaporean citizens living in poverty at the same time that our mercenary MInisters are enjoying their “a couple of million dollar salaries”.
Is it not a mockery of our PAP system ? What will people think ?
While our mercenary PAP Miinisters are enjoying their million dollar salaries in the comfort of their luxury homes, yet there are still poor Singapore citizens taking turns to apply to camp in tents in open public parks.simply because they are homeless.
It is going to look like PAP will not allow TOC to capitalise or take credit for highlighting the problems of the homeless because it would mean simply that PAP is going to lose face for not even knowing that there are indeed homeless people in Singapore for one reason or another.
I am sure next the Govt will go hand-in-hand with MSM into defensive mode to debunk the truth either to make these homeless people appear to be mere opportunists hoping that the authorities will allow them to move into cheaper homes without going through the normal channels or to put it like what some of our PAP leaders has said recently “That is their problem of their own making such as marry too young, experience sex too early, have too many kids, do not study hard enough, take drugs, etc.”.
Why raid at night ? I suppose our PAP Ministers must be particularly incensed especially when someone alleges that there are still some Singaporean citizens living below the poverty level. As you can see, I can still remember some university dean or lecturer once defended our PAP govt that “There are no poor people in Singapore”.
while TOC is to be lauded in highlighting the plight of the homeless, their expose has the unintended consequence of alerting the authorities to these people, and now they have been asked to leave. This reminds me of a similar case a few years ago, when Lianhe Zaobao ran a story about campers/’homeless’ on Changi beach. A couple of days later, the beach was cleared by the police.
Please, think thrice about unintended consequences before running similar stories in the future
Judging by the swift response, the government is undoubtedly keeping a close eye on what’s happening in NEW MEDIA. Under the pretext of maintaining a good image for the country by temporarily relocating the homeless people, the government wants to show that they are competent to run the country. Although this may appear a small step in countering the threat of NEW MEDIA, this case highlight their possible intention of completely neutralising threats from NEW MEDIA if possible. By drawing unnecessary attention to this case, they have conveniently brush aside other numerous issues which the NEW MEDIA have brought up such as indiscriminate influx of foreigners, widening income gap, escalating cost of living, losses by GIC and TH, inacountabilities for many of their failed policies. These unaddressed problems truly reflect the inefficiencies of the PAP government in managing this country.
PAP is tasting her own fruits.
When Singaporean cannot get jobs, more such things will happen.
The gain for FT will eventually be used to pay subsidised home and food for those displaced.
The distressed family will pass on many problems to the next generation.
It will not take long for some groups to turn to fundamentalism.
Actually those people can really be offered decent jobs if we restructure our employment regulations.
I applaud TOC for their decision to publish the PAP regime’s tactics to create a “there are no homeless in Singapore” showpiece. It is not TOC’s fault that the authorities abuse the homeless’ ignorance and deny the homeless of their human rights. The authorities could have reacted differently. Obviously our million$ golden rice bowl minister couldn’t be bothered by the plight of his fellow countrymen to personally push for a more humane solution.
TOC by reporting and following up on the matter, has done an excellent job of this under-belly of PAP regime. Think wisely before casting your next vote. Do not waste it on a spoilt vote, for we need to break PAP’s 2/3 parliamentary majority in order for real change/improvements to happen.
Does anyone here still believe in the crap sprouted by the PAP ministers as reported by the mainstream media?
http://sg.news.yahoo.com/cna/20100117/tap-319-singaporeans-come-law-minister-231650b.html
Just a minor note: the abbreviation for the ministry is MCYS, not MCDYS. Apologies for nitpicking, but this mistake kept distracting me while reading the article.
So basically…..
T.O.C saboh!!!
” ” THREE CHEERS FOR T.O.C.”!!!
Well done!
#sweeny
look at it objectively, if TOC did not make this revelation on the plight of the campers, they will continue to suffer. now that it is known to the public, the relevant people will act, and must act. the likely outcome is their problems will be heard and under the scrutiny of public eyes, will at least improve their current state.
i will give the thumbs up to TOC/
sorry, #27 is meant for dd@#25
That fully explains why many helpless Singaporean will always meet with cold wall and sarcasm from the govt when they tried to seek help. Many have since given up on seeking help due to lack of compassion from PAP. The way all these authorities present themselves at the site proves two things – reckless and uncompassionate. Alternative parties will not treat Singaporeans like that.
Looks like it turned out well.
But can these people afford the $ for the places they moved into?
I am appalled by the conditions they stand to live under if they go to Angsana home. Locked gates? 2 pratas for a family of six?? This is the concentration camps of Nazi Germany??!!
I feel so so sad for the campers, and so so pissed with the Govt.
Well done TOC.
isn’t this illegal or unlawful detention?
We cannot say TOC “sabo”, you have to realised that , after the rain….there will be sunshine.
Well done TOC.
One thing to note, ie whenever there are sure cases,the helping party(ie TOC)must first established a line of constant contact and reached.
It is always the “Bad Guys” tactics..to “wisked” away “their dirt” in the Middle of the Night.
Therefore, the “Helping Voice” must always anticipate this kind of Dirty tricks.
Thus you must ,bery important..firstly established a line of constant reach ,before you even start to spin the Story.
Singapore does have a number off homeless.
Apparently, strong incentive to act in the form of spurs to the hide is effective for the civil service as well.
Spur away, TOC. Draw a little blood while you’re at it……
stay updated on homeless issues at this group
http://www.facebook.com/#/group.php?gid=243022663629&ref=ts
Shooting the government on a general front will be ineffectual. The individual or team who created the scheme would still be in the seat of power in a faceless Statutory Board or Ministry.
If possible, it will more effective to know who, by name, is the architect of angsana housing policy.
Clearly the system have collapsed. Loads of Deception and Grabbing of millions …. these minis.. they are so heartless…. this once bright boy who once talk sense is now boot ..sucking and licking.. his own soul sold and bought ….. the spirit of the society will return to haunt you on your judgement day.
You are so afraid ppl will know there are poor ppl in SIN? Were you ashamed that there really poor people in SIN that you must hide them away. from public eyes … You must be feeling effective and smart having cleared them.. but you ae being judged.
You cant hide facts , right in the heart of city… the old folks still toiled away in your modern metropolis where $22billions were wasted away in the name of long term investments. $400 millions were given to a high jink Aussies to fly his mistress. .. Have we gone nuts? .
Did the state invested in the poor and homeless? You decide.. did they? The Minister went beach to hide them away from public eyes?
I am not sure the votes will go their way this time.
.
That’s how LKY claims that Singapore has no homeless people: by locking them up!
sooner or later i will be like them to sleep in the parks!!!
if mr mah bow tan is not helping me,i will confirm be sleeping at the voids decks!!!!! no money to pay HDB,make us sell our house,if rent room also no money to rent,why cant goverment HELP us???? dont just keeping poking into our pockets!!!!
HDB is a place to …be called HOME,not a place for those Prs,to buy over our house let makes us sleep in the streets!!!!
as what i’m feeling now is gov is treating Prs better than singaporeans lol….
if this goes on,i’m sure more family will be out sleeping in the streets!!!please help these people!!!!
CAN ANY ONE HEAR THIS?????? HELLLOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :-(
The PAP tries several means to sweep this matter under the rag; from Intimadating and harrasment approach to “lock up” way, but unfortunately the issue will still persists as more and more Singaporean (especially the Malays) will be UNABLE TO SERVICE THEIR HDB MORTGAGES PAYMENT . As a resort, some will sell their present flat in order to settle the outstanding mortgage payment and looking forward to buy another smaller flat BUT THE ISSUE is – many of them will not be eligible for bank loan due to length of employment period or failing to meet the income requirement or simply not eligible for the HDB concensionary mortgage loan; so the eventuallity is- this group may likely end up living at the EAST COAST “VILLA” OR SEMBAWANG PARK “BUNGALOW”.
Dear Andrew Loh,
Are you under duress that you provided a lenient article this time? I hope not.
Do you remember when you interviewed me outside National Library? I was jobless for just above one year. Most employers are racist against Malays and adopt pro-foreigner-apartheid. Foreigners/immigrants employed in mid-level jobs are not cheap. I know the figures.
You have yet to publish. But I understand what’s happening on your side. I guess I’m on my own.
I find that very appalling!how can they treat the poor people like prisoners? Afterall its shelter they seek not money!
That too they are deprived of.And 2 Roti pratas for 6 ppl????Thats CRAZY!!!! I think soon the World is going to End as too many unjust people are mutilating the resourses around.If Singapore is not going to step up to help its fellow people in a more humane manner then Who will!!!!HDB has to be more flexible…otherwise there is going to be a nationwide problem with more poor,homeless people.I am sure that we sitting and typing all this comments is easier said than achieved.God Bless The Poor!
I am totally sicken by the way the authorities treatment of the homeless. Homelessness isn’t a crime. Shame on the police and MCYS for treating these human beings like common criminals.
And how much are we spending on the YOG? And how much are the ministers getting? And until the people of Singapore truly gets a voice, anyone can be treated like common criminal with his/her civil rights taken stripped away without any just cause.
I don’t have to tell you who I am voting when the next General Election comes around. But then again, let’s see what new games “that party” is going to play this time.