Thursday 28 May 2015

[Straits Times] My Point

Allow grace period for visiting vehicles
AT SOME HDB carparks, visitor vehicles are not allowed to enter once the visitor spots are all taken.
It is common to see a long queue of vehicles forming outside such carparks. This causes traffic congestion and inconvenience to other road users.
It is also inconvenient for residents who depend on taxis or other private transport for their commute, especially during inclement weather.
The HDB has said that the reason for restricting the entry of visitor vehicles is so that they do not compete with season parking holders for space.
But this compromises the interest of not only residents who do not own private transport but also other road users in the area.
I urge the HDB to allow visitor vehicles to enter these carparks for a grace period of 10 minutes.
This would allow such vehicles to pick up or drop off passengers easily.
Enforcement can always be carried out to penalise visitor vehicles which take up season parking spaces beyond the designated hours.
Victor Tan Thiam Siew
Unsightly stickers plastered on door
I FACE the same problems and frustrations as Mr Raymond Anthony Fernando ("Stop property flier litter at flats"; Monday).
Besides fliers, stickers are also plastered to my front door, grille and doorbell.
These stickers are unsightly, unsolicited, and require great effort to remove.
I left a message on my door pleading that stickers not be left on my property, but it has been ignored.
I have approached my neighbourhood police post, but the police do not consider it littering, nor that it is serious enough to warrant any action.
I hope some government authority will take action on this matter.
Albert Lee Kwok Yin
Better ways to do good on Vesak Day
THE article, "Patrols to curb releasing of animals" (May 14), could not have come at a more opportune time, ahead of Vesak Day on June 1.
Many devotees buy captive animals such as fish and birds from pet shops and set them free, as a symbolic gesture of compassion and a virtuous act of saving a life.
However, this is a mistaken notion.
Trapping and holding animals captive is an unwholesome occupation, and buying these animals is an act of abetment, which would only encourage the former.
After all, there will be no supply if there is no demand.
The saving of lives is a virtue to cultivate, but many of these animals released into an unfamiliar and hostile environment will eventually perish.
Devotees should preserve lives by refraining from acquiring and freeing the animals.
Temples and religious centres should also discourage this act.
Instead, the money saved should be donated to a worthy cause.
Chin Kee Thou