Latest news with #NewPaper
New Paper
04-08-2025
- General
- New Paper
No monkey business: NParks officers go viral for fending off macaques with toy-like guns
Two National Parks Board (NParks) officers have gone viral after they were spotted calmly steering a troop of monkeys away from an HDB block - armed with what looked like toy guns. In a TikTok video posted on Aug 3 by user @coconoteee, the officers are seen patrolling an HDB block in Punggol Coast, aiming toy-like rifles at the macaques. Each shot emits a loud, rifle-like pop, drawing amused reactions from onlookers. Around 10 monkeys can be seen loitering at the void deck, climbing railings and barriers, while curious residents watch. One passer-by is overheard asking: "Is that a water gun?" The clip was set to dramatic action movie music and overlaid with the cheeky on-screen text: "POV: you get to water gun wild monkeys for public safety." Its accompanying caption asked: "I saw this and need answers - what job is this??" The post has since gone viral, amassing over 13,800 shares and 1,000 comments. Netizens reacted with everything from amusement and admiration to concern over whether the monkeys were being harmed. Netizens commend NParks' actions Some netizens were tickled by the sight, posting comments like "I want this job!" and "Where do I apply?" Others praised NParks for taking proactive, non-violent steps to manage the situation. "For people who say don't harm the animals, you don't know what the residents are facing daily," one user commented. "Monkeys might be climbing into their flats daily, snatching food. Residents can't chase them away, and can only close their windows. I am thankful to NParks." Another agreed, saying: "It is time to address this long-standing issue of how to handle monkeys. Residents - from children to the elderly - should not have to live in fear of monkeys harassing them in urban spaces." They added: "Hopefully, this solution by NParks will help to effectively and systematically curb and cull the monkey problem." Others raise concerns about animal welfare Not everyone was on board with the approach. Some netizens questioned the effectiveness and ethics of using such tactics. "I know the monkeys are being a hazard, but does this hurt them?", one asked, while another pointed out: "This will not keep them away permanently… what's the point?" Others pointed to a deeper issue, suggesting that the presence of wild animals in urban areas is a consequence of human development encroaching on their natural habitats, leaving them displaced and homeless. "We have built too many concrete buildings for people, so now the monkeys have nowhere to go. Their habitat was once where the buildings are," one commenter noted. NParks responds: Water gel beads are safe for wildlife In response to queries from The New Paper, NParks said it "adopts a science- and community-based approach in managing wildlife". Mr How Choon Beng, group director of wildlife management at NParks, identified the animals in the video as long-tailed macaques. He explained: "As part of our monkey guarding efforts, NParks has been using water gel beads as an additional measure to guide macaques away from residential areas and back into forested zones, as some have grown accustomed to existing deterrents." He added that the loud sound from the device, combined with the scattering of gel beads, helps startle and deter the macaques. Addressing concerns about animal welfare, Mr How said: "While the beads are not aimed directly at the macaques, should there be any inadvertent contact, they will burst upon impact and do not carry significant force at that range." NParks said it has adopted a range of strategies to manage macaques. These include removing food sources through proper waste management, guiding the animals back to forested areas, removal of aggressive individuals, and carrying out sterilisation at specific sites. "For wildlife management personnel who handle wildlife such as macaques, NParks offers wildlife management training courses to ensure public safety, personnel safety and animal welfare in the course of such activities." If macaques approach, members of the public are advised to remain calm and avoid sudden movements or direct eye contact. NParks also advises keeping plastic bags out of sight, as macaques may associate them with food.
New Paper
01-08-2025
- Health
- New Paper
'This is really sad to see': Viral video shows soldier vaping on board bus
A viral video showing a soldier in army uniform vaping on a public bus has reignited concerns over the growing prevalence of e-cigarette use among young people in Singapore. The 58-second video, initially posted on Instagram account @sgfollowsall, showed the man slouched in the last row of a bus, appearing dazed as he brought a vape device to his mouth multiple times and exhaled in the enclosed space. He was seen repeating the act at least four times. The video was later taken down but has since resurfaced on subreddit r/SingaporeRaw on Aug 1 around 11am. Reddit comments ranged from apathy to sarcasm and disapproval. One Redditor remarked: "Vaping is more dangerous to those around him. Those in the bus or MRT did not consent to inhaling vapes or etomidate." Another Redditor added: "Parents really need to keep track of what their kids are doing outside. And kids need to understand how disastrous vape is for their minds and bodies." Some commenters suggested the boy appeared "addicted", with one remarking that his actions looked like "muscle memory". Others questioned whether current enforcement efforts were keeping up. "This has less to do with "less penalties" but more to do with less enforcement against vaping or regulation having to keep up with the rapid emergence of new or novel drugs," one said. "Vape is literally everywhere now - you can see people openly vape." Calls for tougher action also surfaced. "What is wrong with these youngsters? Who is systematically distributing these drugs in Singapore?" asked a Redditor. Yet, a few expressed sympathy, viewing the video as a reflection of deeper issues. "Poor thing," said one. Another remarked: "To be honest, this is really sad to see on so many levels." The New Paper has reached out to the Ministry of Defence for comments.
New Paper
04-05-2025
- New Paper
'Your son is stupid as hell': Tutor who fails to get loan from student's dad
A tutor recently asked his student's father for advance payment and loan but was turned down. In response, the tutor told the man that "your son is stupid as hell" and "only God can teach him". According to the netizen Justin Lee, who on May 2 highlighted the incident in the Facebook group Complaint Singapore, his cousin had one lesson with his tutor whose tutoring service was found online in late-April. Mr Lee shared screengrabs of the exchange between his uncle and the tutor. The tutor had asked Mr Lee's uncle for payment for the one lesson that was completed as well as an advance for the next three lessons. He was charging $60 per lesson. In total, he asked Mr Lee's uncle for a payment of $180. The tutor also asked for a $500 loan on top of the $180. "It will be a great help as my mum is in the ICU because of leukaemia," wrote the tutor. Mr Lee's uncle replied: "I am sorry to hear that but I don't think it's right to do this." Despite the reluctance from his student's dad, the tutor pressed on. "Are you able to lend me $500? I will repay you by giving lessons." When Mr Lee's uncle refused to pay an advance or give a loan, the tutor told him to "look for another tutor". Mr Lee's uncle relented and wrote "you can go teach someone who will lend you money", to which the tutor replied: "Sure, your son is stupid as hell. Only God can teach him." Netizens advise Mr Lee to file a report with the police or Ministry of Education. A Facebook user going by the name Hey, who claimed to be a friend of the tutor's, commented: "When I first saw the post, I was shocked and appalled. "But upon closer inspection of the messages, there seems to be something weird going on. The messages look fabricated (time stamps are wrong, his name at the top was cut off and the 'online' status doesn't even look the correct font). "Furthermore, the typing style seems the same between the two people in the chat (sometimes there's space before and after a comma)." Hey added that his friend was not the sort to display this sort of behaviour. Another netizen pointed out that the exchange between the tutor and the student looked fake, highlighting the timestamp of the second message from the tutor showing to be three minutes before the message from the student. The New Paper has reached out to Mr Lee to verify his account of events.
