Rat Infestation

Chairman of Aljunied-Hougang-Punggol East Town Council (AHPETC) is opposition MP Sylvia Lim, who faces a potential fine of $1000 for organising the Lunar New Year Flora and Community Fair 2014 from Jan 9 to Jan 30 this year. AHPETC's lawyer Peter Low pointed out that it was a “mini-fair” or an “event”, and hence did not require a permit. Although Low is unlikely to over invoice for his services like PAP MP Alvin Yeo did in the Susan Lim case, the court charges will surely exceed the thousand bucks easily. Why bother, you may ask.

Low showed the court a revised trade fair application form dated July 2008, which states “only grassroots organisations, town councils and charitable, civic, educational, religious or social institutions are allowed to hold fairs”. But the forms the AHPETC received last December did not have the crucial words “town councils”.

Low asked when and why the change was made. Mr Tan objected, saying it was irrelevant as the issue before the court is whether the event needed a permit. We, the people of Singapore, would also like to object: How is it the change was conveniently incurred within a month (Dec - Jan)? And who makes those changes anyway?

In parliament on Tuesday 7 Oct, same Sylvia Lim also asked about another convenient change, specifically why an option to inform others when applying for a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) was removed from the form just last month, when Yang Yin's grand scheme was finally unfolding in the mainstream media. The answer from Minister for Social and Family Development Chan Chun Sing stating that the current LPA scheme has adequate safeguards was far from satisfactory. Especially when an 87-year-old Singaporean widow stands to lose her $40 million worth of assets to a dubious character from the PRC because of the mere stroke of a pen.

The resident who wrote to MP for Bukit Panjang and Mayor for North West District Teo Ho Pin to complain about rat infestation at his estate finally got his template response: not my problem, officer XXX will be looking into issue shortly. Meanwhile the rats are having a field day, doing what rats do, spreading havoc to the environment. No wonder there are so many rats in the system.