This is a (real-life!) e-mail correspondence, which ensued after I shot an email about this issue. Names and contact details have been deleted to protect identities.
~~~
To: Central Singapore Community Development Council
Date: 26 Nov 06 Subject: Feedback to Mount Faber Zone 'C' RC
Dear Sir/Madam, Please assist to forward the below feedback to anyone in Mount Faber Zone 'C' RC, thank you.
----------------------------------------------
Dear Sir/Ma'am, On 26 Nov, Sunday, at 5.40 pm, along Telok Blangah Way, I saw a sight that revealed a lot about how badly we need a lesson in personal responsibility. A group of 8 was laying out joss paper to burn - in the middle of the pavement. There is absolutely nothing wrong in burning joss paper or joss sticks, as it is a cultural and customary practice among many Singaporeans. But there are facilities for this practice. To damage public property for one's own needs is selfish and outright uncivilised. The portion between Al-Amin Mosque and SAFRA Mount Faber at Telok Blangah Way is a patch of green and thick foliage, an invite to anyone who wants to immerse in the natural cool of Mount Faber.
To ruin a scene like that with burning causes inconvenience to passers-by, damages the grass there, spreads smoke to the surrounding areas and makes it extremely difficult for the cleaners to do their job the next morning. The photo I've attached (shown above) doesn't do justice to the amount of smoke generated by the burning and the utter audacity shown by the group to do such a thing. And we want to be a green city? With inconsiderate folks like these, we don't need burning hotspots in Indonesia. I sincerely hope Mount Faber Zone 'C' RC take some action and do a brainstorm on how to tackle this issue, which hopefully lead to solutions that will help to tackle such problems on a nationwide scale.
Regards,
[My name, contact number]
Date: 5 Dec 06
Subject: Re:Feedback to Mount Faber Zone 'C' RC
Hi, Thanks for your email. As your feedback falls under the purview of the Land Transport Authority, we have forwarded it to LTA on 28 Nov 06. Hope this helps and have a nice day.
(Corporate Communications)
Central Singapore Community Development Council
HDB Hub BizThree 490 Lorong 6 Toa Payoh #04-10 Singapore 310490
www.centralsingapore.org.sg
Date: 6 Dec 06
Subject: BURNING OF JOSS PAPERS AND STICKS
FEEDBACK NUMBER: 437260
We have received your email dated 26 Nov 2006, which was forwarded to us from Central Singapore Community Development Council on 29 Nov 2006.We observed from the attached picture that it is a temporary activity,which will unlikely lead to an issue of obstruction on the pathway. However, the burning of joss papers is damaging to the grass verge and as such, it is deemed to be an environmental and planting issue. For this, we would like to inform you that the matter comes under thepurview of the National Environment Agency (NEA) and National Parks Board(NParks).
We will, by copy of this email, refer your feedback to them fortheir attention and reply.Should you wish to contact NEA and NParks directly on the matter, pleaserefer to their email addresses below.
Thank you.
Yours sincerely,
(SIGNED IN LOTUS NOTES)
PUBLICITY & PROGRAMMESCORPORATE COMMUNICATIONS
cc:National Environment Agency (NEA)
Email: Contact_NEA@nea.gov.sg National Parks Board (NParks)
Email: NPARKS_Public_Affairs@nparks.gov.sg
[NEA and NParks, for your necessary action pls. Thank you.]
Date: 6 Dec 06
Subject: Nuisance - Joss/Candle/Oth at TELOK BLANGAH WAY
Ref: MC612641577
Dear Sir,
Thank you for your email dated 6th December 2006Via LTA. We have referred your feedback to Central Regional Office. Our Officer in Charge will reply to you accordingly.
Please call us or email Contact_NEA@nea.gov.sg again if NEA can be of further service.
Thank you.
Sincerely,
Customer Service Officer
Tel: 1800-CALL NEA [1800-2255 632] National Environment Agency Call Centre
Date: 7 Dec 06
Subject: Nuisance - Joss/Candle/Oth at TELOK BLANGAH WAY
Dear Sir, Feedback on Burning of Joss Papers along Telok Blangah Way
Kindly refer to your feedback on the above mentioned subject.
We share your concerns that devotees who burn joss papers should be more considerate and mindful of others need for a clean environment. We would remind devotees to burn joss papers in receptacles away from, any buildings premises or road pavement but to use the receptacles providedby the Town Council in order to minimize any smoke nuisance and toforestall fire hazards. We will persist to monitor and impressed upon themto exercise greater personal responsibility and collective commitment in maintaining the environment clean whilst practicing their religious rituals.Thank you for highlighting the matter to us. You are welcome to contact our Manager of the area at Tel 68546426 should you need any further assistance concerning the matter.
Sincerely Manager Customer Relations,
Surveillance & Intelligence Central Regional Office
National Environment Agency
================================================================================================================== Our Environment -- We Care
[End of Email chain]
Date: 26 Nov 06 Subject: Feedback to Mount Faber Zone 'C' RC
Dear Sir/Madam, Please assist to forward the below feedback to anyone in Mount Faber Zone 'C' RC, thank you.
----------------------------------------------
Dear Sir/Ma'am, On 26 Nov, Sunday, at 5.40 pm, along Telok Blangah Way, I saw a sight that revealed a lot about how badly we need a lesson in personal responsibility. A group of 8 was laying out joss paper to burn - in the middle of the pavement. There is absolutely nothing wrong in burning joss paper or joss sticks, as it is a cultural and customary practice among many Singaporeans. But there are facilities for this practice. To damage public property for one's own needs is selfish and outright uncivilised. The portion between Al-Amin Mosque and SAFRA Mount Faber at Telok Blangah Way is a patch of green and thick foliage, an invite to anyone who wants to immerse in the natural cool of Mount Faber.
To ruin a scene like that with burning causes inconvenience to passers-by, damages the grass there, spreads smoke to the surrounding areas and makes it extremely difficult for the cleaners to do their job the next morning. The photo I've attached (shown above) doesn't do justice to the amount of smoke generated by the burning and the utter audacity shown by the group to do such a thing. And we want to be a green city? With inconsiderate folks like these, we don't need burning hotspots in Indonesia. I sincerely hope Mount Faber Zone 'C' RC take some action and do a brainstorm on how to tackle this issue, which hopefully lead to solutions that will help to tackle such problems on a nationwide scale.
Regards,
[My name, contact number]
*** Replies ****
Date: 5 Dec 06
Subject: Re:Feedback to Mount Faber Zone 'C' RC
Hi, Thanks for your email. As your feedback falls under the purview of the Land Transport Authority, we have forwarded it to LTA on 28 Nov 06. Hope this helps and have a nice day.
(Corporate Communications)
Central Singapore Community Development Council
HDB Hub BizThree 490 Lorong 6 Toa Payoh #04-10 Singapore 310490
www.centralsingapore.org.sg
Date: 6 Dec 06
Subject: BURNING OF JOSS PAPERS AND STICKS
FEEDBACK NUMBER: 437260
We have received your email dated 26 Nov 2006, which was forwarded to us from Central Singapore Community Development Council on 29 Nov 2006.We observed from the attached picture that it is a temporary activity,which will unlikely lead to an issue of obstruction on the pathway. However, the burning of joss papers is damaging to the grass verge and as such, it is deemed to be an environmental and planting issue. For this, we would like to inform you that the matter comes under thepurview of the National Environment Agency (NEA) and National Parks Board(NParks).
We will, by copy of this email, refer your feedback to them fortheir attention and reply.Should you wish to contact NEA and NParks directly on the matter, pleaserefer to their email addresses below.
Thank you.
Yours sincerely,
(SIGNED IN LOTUS NOTES)
PUBLICITY & PROGRAMMESCORPORATE COMMUNICATIONS
cc:National Environment Agency (NEA)
Email: Contact_NEA@nea.gov.sg National Parks Board (NParks)
Email: NPARKS_Public_Affairs@nparks.gov.sg
[NEA and NParks, for your necessary action pls. Thank you.]
Date: 6 Dec 06
Subject: Nuisance - Joss/Candle/Oth at TELOK BLANGAH WAY
Ref: MC612641577
Dear Sir,
Thank you for your email dated 6th December 2006Via LTA. We have referred your feedback to Central Regional Office. Our Officer in Charge will reply to you accordingly.
Please call us or email Contact_NEA@nea.gov.sg again if NEA can be of further service.
Thank you.
Sincerely,
Customer Service Officer
Tel: 1800-CALL NEA [1800-2255 632] National Environment Agency Call Centre
Date: 7 Dec 06
Subject: Nuisance - Joss/Candle/Oth at TELOK BLANGAH WAY
Dear Sir, Feedback on Burning of Joss Papers along Telok Blangah Way
Kindly refer to your feedback on the above mentioned subject.
We share your concerns that devotees who burn joss papers should be more considerate and mindful of others need for a clean environment. We would remind devotees to burn joss papers in receptacles away from, any buildings premises or road pavement but to use the receptacles providedby the Town Council in order to minimize any smoke nuisance and toforestall fire hazards. We will persist to monitor and impressed upon themto exercise greater personal responsibility and collective commitment in maintaining the environment clean whilst practicing their religious rituals.Thank you for highlighting the matter to us. You are welcome to contact our Manager of the area at Tel 68546426 should you need any further assistance concerning the matter.
Sincerely Manager Customer Relations,
Surveillance & Intelligence Central Regional Office
National Environment Agency
================================================================================================================== Our Environment -- We Care
[End of Email chain]
~~~
Moral of the story: People just do it and get away with it. Maybe I should take a picture of the faces of the folks who do such things. And folks who spit at MRT station platforms and escalators (yes, they do).
4 comments:
In the first place, how could this fall under LTA's view??? Someone need to educate the CDCs.
I agreeee....... Must have been annoying to be directed to so many people before actually getting a half-decent answer.
That was me, Shalini by da way. Alloooooo Jalesssssu.
Alloooo Shaaaluuu. Why don't you enter your blog address etc when you enter a comments next time? :)
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