Another sign Singapore is bursting at the seams?

[Kelpie]

From Yahoo!Newsroom,

 

In yet another worrying sign that Singapore is fraying at the edges, an elderly retiree was left with a fractured eye socket after a parking scuffle at Serangoon Gardens turned ugly.

 

Retired businessman Goh Poh Ket, 65, claimed he was punched and assaulted by a man and his two sons after he parked his car outside their home along Jalan Chulek, reported The Straits Times.

 

What began as a shouting match between all four ended up in Goh being viciously hit by a remote control, a plastic bottle and a sock filled with a hard substance, no less.

 

Madam Lee, a resident and housewife in her 50s, told the paper, "Their sons even said, 'old man still want to fight with us,' and I told them to make sure they don't grow old."

 

All four men in the ugly brawl have since been arrested by police.

 

Frustration, anger, rage, incivility -- increasingly, these are the ugly emotions bubbling forth, online and offline, as an increasingly fractious Singapore copes with its burgeoning 5.1 million population.

 

The current Singapore Kindness Movement campaign to inculcate social graces among all living on this island is proving to be an uphill battle.

 

Just last month, a spat caught on video between a young lady and an auntie -- both Singaporean -- over an MRT seat went viral. A few days later, two uncles were caught on tape again in a vicious public brawl on a bus.

 

Is this the kind of Singapore we want our kids to grow up in?

 

Latest statistics from SBS Transit revealed that disputes between passengers on SBS buses have risen by 68 per cent in the last two years.

 

In a thought-provoking opinion piece back in May, Straits Times editor Warren Fernandez challenged the government and public policy-makers to come out and say just how many people it thought can live on this island.

 

6.5 million? Or how about 8 million?

 

And he is right.

 

Because no matter how many open spaces or sprawling "green gardens" you plant, Singapore will always be limited by its size.

 

Build and reclaim all you want, but that fact cannot be changed.

 

Singapore's infrastructure -- roads, public and private housing, public transport, education system -- is already straining under the current load. Just how many more people can we afford to have cramped into this island?

 

Add to that the growing divide between the haves and the have-nots, and I fear for Singapore.

 

For unless a solution is found quickly and our course altered, this little red dot is going to be an uglier, nastier place in time to come.

 

Regards,

[Liping24cn]

It's ok. Usually society took to self settlement of dispute is because society perceive the law and police as useless.

There is no turning back as the seams are already leaking.

Little infarction fights, arguments, violence is getting very common.

 

 

[Antlau]

well, as the population increases, the arms of the law has to be increased as well, and its presence be felt even more closer...

[Raymondism]

From Yahoo!Newsroom,

 

In yet another worrying sign that Singapore is fraying at the edges, an elderly retiree was left with a fractured eye socket after a parking scuffle at Serangoon Gardens turned ugly.

 

Retired businessman Goh Poh Ket, 65, claimed he was punched and assaulted by a man and his two sons after he parked his car outside their home along Jalan Chulek, reported The Straits Times.

 

What began as a shouting match between all four ended up in Goh being viciously hit by a remote control, a plastic bottle and a sock filled with a hard substance, no less.

 

Madam Lee, a resident and housewife in her 50s, told the paper, "Their sons even said, 'old man still want to fight with us,' and I told them to make sure they don't grow old."

 

All four men in the ugly brawl have since been arrested by police.

 

Frustration, anger, rage, incivility -- increasingly, these are the ugly emotions bubbling forth, online and offline, as an increasingly fractious Singapore copes with its burgeoning 5.1 million population.

 

The current Singapore Kindness Movement campaign to inculcate social graces among all living on this island is proving to be an uphill battle.

 

Just last month, a spat caught on video between a young lady and an auntie -- both Singaporean -- over an MRT seat went viral. A few days later, two uncles were caught on tape again in a vicious public brawl on a bus.

 

Is this the kind of Singapore we want our kids to grow up in?

 

Latest statistics from SBS Transit revealed that disputes between passengers on SBS buses have risen by 68 per cent in the last two years.

 

In a thought-provoking opinion piece back in May, Straits Times editor Warren Fernandez challenged the government and public policy-makers to come out and say just how many people it thought can live on this island.

 

6.5 million? Or how about 8 million?

 

And he is right.

 

Because no matter how many open spaces or sprawling "green gardens" you plant, Singapore will always be limited by its size.

 

Build and reclaim all you want, but that fact cannot be changed.

 

Singapore's infrastructure -- roads, public and private housing, public transport, education system -- is already straining under the current load. Just how many more people can we afford to have cramped into this island?

 

Add to that the growing divide between the haves and the have-nots, and I fear for Singapore.

 

For unless a solution is found quickly and our course altered, this little red dot is going to be an uglier, nastier place in time to come.

 

Regards,

 

 

there is already a similar thread "Ah lau tio pah"...

[Expertz]

has anybody read the experiment about mouse utopia?

they put several mice in a confined space with abundant food, water and space

 

the mice population quickly began to raise and the researchers found that these mice started to grow fat and lazy

when the population started to grow too big and there was massive over crowding, despite the abundant food and water, the mice started to turn aggressive and fight with each other for no reason.

 

they said that humans will likely react in the same manner when faced with over crowding

[Albeniz]

well, as the population increases, the arms of the law has to be increased as well, and its presence be felt even more closer...

 

If crime rate increases, do we have enough prison cells to house the offenders?

I hope overcrowding would not become a reason for jail term reduction.

[Poper]

Our gahmen say that "independant expert" says we need 7 million people leh (or is it 8 million)?

 

May be time to build underground HDB flats?

[Observer]

they are brave. they act out what others would normally kpokb in the forum.

 

the family > mcf keyboard warriors

[Alechi]

It's not about overcrowding. It's about people who bought Pte houses and have the illusion that the PUBLIC road outside is their private property as well. Self-centred selfish fellas.

[Jasonjst]

there is already a similar thread "Ah lau tio pah"...

 

Same story different meaning . This one is FTs bushing , the other one is old man kena bushed .

[Kiadaw]

It's not about overcrowding. It's about people who bought Pte houses and have the illusion that the PUBLIC road outside is their private property as well. Self-centred selfish fellas.

I am not sure if parking outside their house, means parking outside the gate (blocking them), or beside the house, near the kerb. By right, you do not own the space outside. Its clear as you do not have to maintain the area outside your house, unlike some other countries.

 

But its a chicken & egg question also. I personally will not park beside someone house, but find a spot away from houses. Anyway, many of these neighbourhood are poorly design, with limited space for visitor to park their car. I think allow people to park their car have never been even a consideration when they build the places.

[Viceroymenthol]

This is another potential money maker for the govt.

 

They can now explore selling the public road space outside of all landed properties to be made into carpark lots.

 

First option goes to house owner. Gar gar charge $3000 psf, sure got many people still want to buy.

 

Like that will have no arguments about "whose space is it" any more.

[Mockngbrd]

this article sure wun publish in ST