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New Paper
5 days ago
- General
- 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."
New Paper
21-05-2025
- New Paper
S'pore couple found dead in KL knew 13-year-old sexual assault victim
The Singaporean couple found dead at a Taman Taynton View homestay in Cheras on May 16 apparently knew the 13-year-old victim in a sexual assault case they were allegedly being investigated for. It was earlier reported that 43-year-old Xie Jinde and his wife, 33-year-old Zhuang Shuyi, were found dead by apparent suicide. As investigations unfold, Malaysian police have confirmed that the case is connected to a serious sexual offence. Serdang district police chief Assistant Commissioner Muhamad Farid Ahmad told Shin Min Daily News on May 19 that the couple had been under investigation for allegedly sexually assaulting a minor. According to police, the 13-year-old girl was known to both Mr Xie and Ms Zhuang. On April 30, the couple allegedly took the girl out under the pretext of going for a walk, but instead took her to a rented unit in Selangor, where Mr Xie was suspected to have made sexual advances towards her. Ms Zhuang was reportedly present during the incident. "The girl later told her parents that the couple had done 'bad things' to her, and the parents immediately alerted the police," he said. The funeral company handled the body collection on behalf of the deceased's family. PHOTO: SHIN MIN DAILY NEWS Mr Xie and Ms Zhuang were arrested under Section 14(a) of Malaysia's Sexual Offenses against Children Act 2017, which covers sexual and indecent assault. "They were both subjects of the investigation," said Assistant Commissioner Muhamad Farid. Mr Xie had been scheduled to appear in court on May 14 but failed to turn up. The Malaysian police were unable to contact him after that. Malaysia's China Press reported that the couple's next-of-kin did not turn up for the funeral and cremation, which were handled by a funeral home.
New Paper
19-05-2025
- New Paper
43-year-old man found dead in alley in Little India
A 43-year-old man was discovered lifeless in an alley in Little India at about 8.15am on May 17. The man showed no visible signs of external injury, although his face was swollen. The police cordoned off the area for investigations. The incident occurred on Hindoo Road, a well-known area in Little India. Mr Satish, 31, who runs an Indian restaurant nearby, told Shin Min Daily News that he had seen the man's body before the area was cordoned off by the police. He said there were no apparent external injuries on the deceased, although his face was noticeably swollen. "I remember there were no blood stains around the body. Next to him, there was a wallet and a lighter," said Mr Satish. The body was discovered at about 8.15am on May 17. PHOTO: SHIN MIN DAILY NEWS The Singapore Civil Defence Force said the man was pronounced dead at the scene. The police confirmed that the deceased was 43 years old and that preliminary investigations suggest that foul play is not suspected. Investigations are ongoing.
New Paper
15-05-2025
- General
- New Paper
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.
New Paper
08-05-2025
- Health
- New Paper
Bed bugs crawl out of AMK flat; residents stock up on insecticide
Residents were plagued by bed bugs constantly coming from a neighbour's unit whose occupant has been hospitalised for weeks. The incident happened at Block 420 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 10, a block of rental flats. Mr Zhang, 40, told Shin Min Daily News that the infestation of bed bugs crawled along the corridor on April 13. Many of them entered his flat and crawled on the walls, sofa and bed. "I checked and found that the bed bugs were pouring out of a neighbour's unit on the same floor," he said. "The bed bugs even entered the next-door units and the facing flat." The man living in the unit was reportedly hospitalised after a fall and hasn't been home since then. When a Shin Min reporter visited the block, there were many dead bed bugs in front of the door of the unit, and water stains on the corridor. At least seven neighbouring units were affected by the infestation. The bed bugs entered the homes of neighbours through door seams and windows. PHOTO: SHIN MIN DAILY NEWS Madam Jie Ya, 58, who lives opposite the unit, told the Chinese daily that the largest number of bed bugs she had seen at home on one occasion was about 50 of them, and some were laying eggs on her furniture. "The bed bugs crawled onto the bed and bit me. I couldn't sleep for a few days and I had to take days off." She admitted that she poured water on the corridor to prevent bed bugs from crawling into her house, and she also stuffed towels in the door seams to block their passage, but her efforts were in vain. Madam Artie, 50, who lives below the unit, revealed that her skin felt itchy some time ago, and she later found many bed bugs in her home. She believed that they crawled into the house through the window. Mr Zhang shared that bed bugs require a specific insecticide: "The usual ones don't work on them. After my family discovered that, we bought our neighbours insecticide for bed bugs." Madam Jiang Huiqing, 78, who lives next to the unit, said she spent a few hundred dollars on insecticides. Another neighbour, Madam Zhou Yufeng, 69, bought five cans and finished four cans in three days: "We sprayed all the areas, including the corridor and lift." Madam Jiang said that the authorities fumigated the affected areas two weeks ago and cleaned the man's unit last week after obtaining his permission. She noted that the situation improved after the fumigation and many rounds of cleaning.
