12 rubbish bins filled in cleaning up Whampoa flat
A flat on the 12th storey of Block 93 Whampoa Drive was so cluttered that foul-smelling water dripped from the ceiling of the unit below and sparked mosquito breeding fears.
Ms Zhang, 60, who runs a stir-fry stall and lives in the flat on the 11th storey, said she first noticed water dripping from her ceiling last November.
"I was eating in the dining room when I saw the leak. I checked and found the drain pipe leaking," she told Shin Min Daily News.
"By February, my kitchen ceiling was mouldy. In March, paint started peeling from the living room ceiling. The water smelt bad."
Ms Zhang showing the state of her ceiling. PHOTO: SHIN MIN DAILY NEWS
For safety, she removed her ceiling light and placed a bucket to collect the dripping water.
"I sniffed the water and it really stank."
Ms Zhang reported the issue, suspected her neighbour in the unit above had a burst pipe. But when she went up to the flat, she was shocked to see the amount of clutter.
"I've lived here for 17 years and never realised it there was a hoarder living above me," she said.
Her neighbour denied responsibility, claiming she hadn't turned on the tap, so the leak couldn't have come from her unit.
Ms Zhang spotted a notice issued by the authorities on April 25 to inform the flat's occupant that officers would be entering the unit four days later to check for mosquito breeding.
Ms Chen, a woman in her 70s, said the items in her flat had been collected over the years - some during her working life, others given to her by friends.
"They're all useful things," she told Shin Min Daily News.
"If others complain, I'll clean it up slowly. But the authorities can't clean it directly - I'm afraid I'll lose valuable items."
When asked if she was worried about mosquitoes, she replied: "I believe in Buddhism, so mosquitoes won't bite me."
The situation drew attention after a resident raised the issue with newly elected Jalan Besar GRC MP Shawn Loh during a meet-the-people session.
Mr Loh shared in a Facebook post on May 10 that his team had recently visited the unit.
He noted that resolving such cases takes time and multiple rounds of engagement, as it is important to respect the resident while looking after the well-being of neighbours.
When reporters visited the block the following morning, several volunteers were already at work. Mr Loh arrived at around 10.30am to speak with residents and coordinate with the authorities.
The clean-up operation lasted six hours and 12 green rubbish bins were filled. Volunteers also purchased a new mattress for Ms Chen.
Workers helping to clear the flat. PHOTO: SHIN MIN DAILY NEWS
Mr Loh thanked community volunteers, the town council, government agencies and other partners for their support.
He said neighbours were understanding and had been patient throughout the process.
According to him, agencies had previously attempted to resolve the hoarding issue last year, but Ms Chen either did not open the door or was not home during inspections.
After repeated efforts from neighbours, grassroots leaders and volunteers, she eventually agreed to let them in.
It remains unclear whether the water leakage and mosquito issues have been fully resolved, but residents hope that the clean-up marks the beginning of a permanent solution.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New Paper
17 hours ago
- New Paper
Ang Mo Kio residents avoid hanging laundry outside windows as high-floor neighbours litter
Residents of Block 337 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 1 are expressing their exasperation over a neighbour who repeatedly throws food scraps out the window. This has made it impossible for residents to hang their laundry to dry as the food scraps would often hit the hanging laundry on their way down. Ms Xiao, a 54-year-old pilates instructor who lives in the block, shared with Shin Min Daily News that the neighbour living above her unit consistently throws food scraps out the window to feed pigeons, resulting in a dirty drying rack and making it impossible for her to hang her laundry outside. "My neighbour throws food out between 8am and 10am every day," said Ms Xiao. "As soon as the food is thrown down, pigeons gather at the foot of the block to pick on the scraps." Ms Xiao added that because she is often busy teaching classes at locations outside her home, she has only a brief window in the morning to hang her clothes to dry. Unfortunately, the unexpected mess from the upper floor has become unbearable: "Now, I have to stay alert and listen carefully for any strange movements. If I hear something suspicious, I quickly collect my laundry to avoid it getting dirty and having to rewash it." On top of the mess spilt on the laundry rack, the food scraps are also often scattered on the ground floor of the block. Ms Xiao mentioned, "I went up to speak with the residents upstairs, but they denied it. I have no proof, so I don't know what else to do." Photos provided by Ms Xiao showed laundry rods and clothes on the drying rack covered in food. She also reported seeing pigeons flocking on the ground floor, pecking at food remnants. HDB resident Ms Xiao claims that the clothes rack and ground floor of the block have been stained by food scraps. PHOTO: SHIN MIN DAILY NEWS Ms Xiao related that she has raised this issue multiple times through the OneService platform, but the problem has not been resolved. "They told me that they had warned the neighbour, but soon after, the same thing happened again. It's really exhausting." At least four households now hang their laundry indoors and shut their windows completely. Another resident, Mr Li, said he and his family no longer hang their laundry outside, as they cannot predict what might be thrown down from above. "We just hang our clothes indoors now because we don't want to risk it. It's too tiring to argue with them," he said. Ms Huang, a 67-year-old retiree, shared that she once opened the window in her laundry area to ventilate the room, only for a plastic bag full of food waste to fall into her home. Residents claim it has been going on for more than 10 years, with food scraps, cigarette butts and tissues being thrown from the upper floors. Ms Xiao, who has resided in the block for 40 years, noted that the situation has worsened in recent months, as food scraps are tossed down nearly every day. "It used to be just rice or biscuit crumbs, but now it's sometimes wet rice or soup. I even heard that someone had a bowl of laksa thrown at them," she said. Mr Li, a 68-year-old taxi driver, recalled that these high-rise littering incidents have always been an issue. He mentioned seeing cigarettes, tissues, fruit seeds and food scraps thrown out the windows. "I've seen all sorts of things thrown down," he said, expressing concerns that the increasing number of pigeons in the area could soon pose a hygiene problem. An Ang Mo Kio Town Council spokesperson confirmed that the authorities were aware of the situation and are working closely with the National Environment Agency (NEA) to monitor and manage the issue. "We have been in active communication with the affected residents, including those who speak out through feedback channels. Notices have been posted to remind residents about the dangers of throwing things from their flats and feeding pigeons, as well as the related penalties." In collaboration with the Town Council, NEA conducted surveillance in the area last October, and plans to conduct a follow-up inspection to assess the situation and determine appropriate measures moving forward. "The authorities are taking the issue of high-rise littering very seriously," the spokesperson emphasised. "We will continue to work with relevant agencies and the community to create a safer and cleaner living environment for residents."
AsiaOne
a day ago
- AsiaOne
We will never forget Tiananmen crackdown, Taiwan and US say on 36th anniversary, Asia News
TAIPEI — The world will never forget China's 1989 crackdown on pro-democracy demonstrators in Tiananmen Square, Taiwan's president and the top US diplomat said on the 36th anniversary of an event Beijing treats as taboo and allows no public remembrance. The events on and around the central Beijing square on June 4, 1989, when Chinese troops opened fire to end the student-led pro-democracy protests, are not publicly discussed in China and the anniversary is not officially marked. Public commemorations take place in overseas cities including Taipei where senior Taiwan government leaders often use the anniversary to criticise China and urge it to face up to what it did. Taiwan President Lai Ching-te, in a post on Facebook on Wednesday (June 4), praised the courage of those who took part in the protests, saying human rights are a concept shared by Taiwan and other democracies that transcend generations and borders. "The commemoration of the June 4 Tiananmen incident is not only to mourn history, but also to perpetuate this memory," said Lai, who Beijing detests as a "separatist" and has rejected his repeated offers of talks. "Authoritarian governments often choose to silence and forget history, while democratic societies choose to preserve the truth and refuse to forget those who gave their lives - and their dreams - to the idea of human rights," he added. "Not only do we refuse to forget history, we will implement our core values every day." US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Tuesday praised the courage of the Chinese people who were killed in the bloody crackdown. "Today we commemorate the bravery of the Chinese people who were killed as they tried to exercise their fundamental freedoms, as well as those who continue to suffer persecution as they seek accountability and justice for the events of June 4, 1989," Rubio said in a statement. "The CCP actively tries to censor the facts, but the world will never forget," he said, referring to the Chinese Communist Party. China's foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Security tight in Hong Kong Before dawn on June 4, 1989, Chinese tanks rolled into Tiananmen Square, crushing weeks of pro-democracy demonstrations by students and workers. China has never provided a full death toll, but rights groups and witnesses say the figure could run into thousands. China blamed the protests on counter-revolutionaries seeking to overthrow the ruling Communist Party. Security around the square was tightened on Tuesday with increased police presence. Police officers set up multiple checkpoints for identification checks on motorists, cyclists, and pedestrians, and also prevented people from taking photographs near the square. There was no discussion about the historic event on Chinese social media, which are heavily censored by authorities. The Tiananmen Mothers, which represents relatives of those killed, put out this week their annual statement calling for a public accounting of what happened. "The executioners of that year have passed away one after another, but as the continuation of the ruling party, the current government has a responsibility to respond to and address the Tiananmen Massacre," Zhang Xianling, whose son Wang Nan was killed, said in a video message. In Hong Kong, where thousands used to gather to mark the anniversary before China's imposition of a national security law in 2020, security was tight around Victoria Park, the site of the previous mass candlelight vigils. Hong Kong's leader John Lee said on Tuesday police would take stringent enforcement actions against any acts endangering national security. A performance artist was forced to leave the vicinity of the park and a shop selling small white candles was raided by customs officials on Tuesday. One jailed pro-democracy activist, Chow Hang-tung, is staging a 36 hour hunger strike in prison to mark the anniversary. [[nid:718667]]
Straits Times
2 days ago
- Straits Times
Man dies after falling onto LRT tracks in KL, rail services disrupted
Selangor rescue officers found the man unresponsive on the tracks under an LRT train and presumed him to be dead. PHOTO: SELANGOR FIRE AND RESCUE DEPARTMENT A man died after he was believed to have fallen onto the railway tracks at a Light Rail Transit (LRT) station in Kuala Lumpur and was struck by a train on the evening of June 3. Sin Chew Daily said the man was from Kaohsiung, Taiwan, according to his passport details. The incident, which happened at Pusat Bandar Puchong station, also disrupted LRT services at three other stations, reported New Straits Times. Selangor Fire and Rescue Department assistant director of operations Ahmad Mukhlis Mukhtar said on June 3 that when its team arrived at the scene, the man was found unresponsive on the tracks under an LRT train and presumed him to be dead. Shuttle bus services and alternative train services were activated by rail operator Rapid KL for affected commuters during the evening peak hours. In a Facebook update close to 9pm, Rapid KL said rescue work was over and all alternative services were discontinued. In February, a visually impaired man was killed after accidentally falling onto the tracks at Kuala Lumpur's Titiwangsa LRT station and getting run over by a train. In 2018, a man died at the same Puchong station where the latest incident happened when he descended onto the tracks and got hit by an oncoming train. Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
