Today I visited Mr Tan Cheng Chu, the gentleman whose plight has been circulating around the Internet on a video - he has a terminal illness and his main companions are his two dogs. Ms Beulah from SOSD ( Save Our Street Dogs) as well Louis Ng, from Acres, were also there. The problem is that a neighbour has been complaining to the HDB about the dogs. As a result of the complaints, HDB was left with no choice but to enforce the rules - which meant Mr Tan has been asked to give up one of his two dogs, since the HDB rules allow only one dog to be kept in a HDB flat. Listening to Mr Tan, and playing with his dogs, one thought kept going through my mind again and again - what sort of person will complain about Mr Tan keeping the dogs in such a situation ? The dogs were friendly, adorable, and obedient. The neighbour apparently could not stand the sound of scratching and the dogs playing with a ball. A bit of compassion and sympathy will go a long way but some amongst us can only think of ourselves, and can't even consider the wishes of Mr Tan, who is very ill. I told Mr Tan that I will speak with his MP, Dr Maliki Osman, so that Dr Maliki can take up the matter with HDB and the complainant. HDB is bound by its rules, though, given the circumstances, HDB has not enforced the rules for more than a year, despite the consistent complaints. HDB is, of course, in a very difficult position. I have spoken with Dr Maliki and asked him if Dr Maliki can approach the complainant and mediate, to see if the complainant can withdraw his objections. SOSD is willing to help mediate in the dispute as well. Hopefully we will get a sensible outcome. This is a situation which many MPs come across frequently. There are many rules on how various activities have to be conducted. But such rules cannot foresee every situation. And, depending on the situation, sometimes there has to be discretion exercised on how the rules should actually be applied. But frequently we will get one or two residents who will insist that the rules be enforced strictly, though the vast majority are ok with the situation. Often the complainers will be behaving unreasonably - but strictly speaking , they will be entitled to complain, and they will do so, repeatedly.
(Picture by Shin Min Daily)
