They are so grateful we have been so accommodating. I think nothing of this but something else he said I would not forget for a long time - lucky for him we are not PRCs. If we were the Chinese mainlanders he would have assumed the worst. I don't want to record the details here. It is not difficult to find anecdotes that this group is not integrating well in our society.
I spoke to a HDB officer today. He told me some PRC Chinese had broken into a vacant rental apartment to occupy recently. This is only the latest of his many stories but I have no time to listen to more. My takeaway is we have a social problem and it is not easy to solve.
Am I not blogging the obvious? Many of us have unpleasant anecdotes to share. I am not even thinking about I know of someone who had experienced this or that category. Just during lunch with a couple of ex-colleagues today, one of them told me how his new PRC neighbor has the habit of leaving his front door open, talking at the top of their voices and standing along the corridor to smoke. This is not a HDB flat but one of the more upscale condos where people expect doors to be closed, neighbors to be considerate and well mannered.
I don't know how we are going to solve these problems. Everyone feels that the government must be more strong armed with them. We don't want to end in altercations with them and so regulatory and police powers are needed. I don't believe the carrot would work with them. In China the armed policed is larger than the regular police. Perhaps we need to take a page from Theodore Roosevelt playbook: speak softly but carry a big stick. I think many of us are speaking softly but we still lack the big stick. We gotta get our act together quickly as patience among Singaporeans is running thin.
From what you have written, it is clear that you have refused to integrate, modify your behaviour or otherwise assimilate to or accommodate the new arrivals. Shame on you for not helping make the government's mass import of third world talents a resounding success. If there are more citizens with your attitudes, it means that the hard work done by Gerard Ee was in vain and it is time to restore and further increase the salaries to the elites.
ReplyDeletei have encountered the same problem with you before. Such contractors should be named! My own contractor not only gave me such hell but a huge delay of more than 5 months as well as a large inflated bill of which none were authorized by me. Avoid weiken.com if you do not want a renovation that has been nothing but a pain the ass.
ReplyDeleteOn the bright side, i have to thank the folks at plumber Singapore. They did the same thing for me too. Fortune was on my side as well since the neighbours downstairs were friendly and we have been great friends ever since. can't remember their website but i believe it to be 24hrsingaporeplumber.com or something like that. just find plumber singapore on google and go to the one with their licensed number and a toll free (1800) number to call.
Previously i also encountered the same problem of choked pipe after renting my house to my tenants for 8 months. I tried to solve the problem myself, but i cant do it. Luckily in the end, i am able to engage the help of Mr Plumber (www.mrplumber.sg) to help me solve the problem. So my suggestion is to find reliable professionals like Mr Plumber to help you solve your problem instead of doing it yourselves
ReplyDeleteExcellent way to publicise that I have no reason to delete this. Thumbs up to you.
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