Please Don't Vandalise - PhotoHunt

PhotoHunt theme :  Daub/Looking out of my window

One night,  a group of 30+ youths (ages above 18) gathered at the garden below my apartment to celebrate the Lantern Festival and a guy's 21st birthday. They sang, played games, lighted lanterns and sparklers beyond 10 pm. The residents tolerated the ruckus until they started to make bonfires. Looking out of my window, I saw 3 bonfires.

A large group of diners at the nearby eatery watched but didn't stop them.

Concerned, I took photos first before rushing downstairs, requesting them to put out the fires. It was 10.18 pm. They resisted, jeered and taunted me. I took their photo with my mobile phone. When the group advanced towards me, I promptly called the Police. It was 10.22pm.

My son and husband came to my aid and brought along a camera. When the youths saw the camera and more residents coming to help, they started to pack up.

Two of them in their twenties approached me and apologised. They said they would leave and clean up. I accepted their apology, made sure the fires were completely extinguished and was able to return home at 10.54 pm.

The next day, I saw the cleaners carefully daubing the blackened stone work flooring with detergent so as not to damage it further.

It was extremely frightening coming face to face with a large group of raging youths by myself but somebody has to stop them before things get out of control.

All throughout my ordeal, the police didn't appear nor contact me to follow up. As usual, the lackadaisical Marine Parade Neighbourhood Police and Bedok Police Divisional HQ are reluctant to act.

Who do we call when such acts of vandalism happens?

This garden usually sees quite a fair number of youths from the church across the street or students from nearby schools gather here on weekend evenings to have fun. We have to tolerate the noise until they leave which could be well after midnight. During our National Day, a group of them stayed beyond 3 am. Also there is much rubbish for the cleaners to clear the next day.

I informed the relevant authorities and gave feedback to my Member of Parliament ESM Goh Chok Tong, it has been peaceful ....... probably just for the time being.

Marine Parade New Year Countdown 2013 - Ruby Tuesday

Marina Bay Singapore

To all my readers and friends,

Have a terrific 2013!

ESM Goh Chok Tong was the guest of honour at our Marine Parade New Year Countdown Party 2013. MP Lim Biow Chuan made a special appearance at our party of around 2000 residents. Both guests mingled with the residents who came up to shake their hands or request for a photo taken with them.

Hot Samba dancers

From 8.30 pm onwards, residents both young and old enjoyed watching a variety of performances including a magic show, fire-eating dance, singing and musical performances. The hottest item was the hot Samba dancers. Many of the men rushed forward to have a closer look of the sexy dancers and took videos and photos of them. :P

The Countdown Party was organised by Marine Parade GROs and Marine Parade Merchants' Association. Tickets were sold at S$3 each and we received a goodie bag filled with party treats. I was delighted to find two cute limited-edition Panda bear key chains.

The residents had fun singing and dancing with the guests after the Countdown. ESM Goh Chok Tong and MP Lim Biow Chuan then went round shaking hands and wishing everyone they met a Happy New Year.

Chit Chat with Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong

A participant from a SME voicing her woes to ESM Goh on the difficulty of employing Singaporeans

MParader Connects organized a chit chat session for Singaporeans with Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong on 20 June 2011. This session is a face-to-face feedback session which was more meaningful and lively than listening to feedback merely by letters or facebook comments.

The youngest participant, a 15 year old student, having a photo with ESM Goh

There were 60 participants, an increase from the initial fixed number of 40, due to overwhelming response from Singaporeans wanting to engage ESM Goh.

ESM Goh was very open, we chatted about the influx of immigrants, declining birthrate, education, national identity, employment issues....etc. We gain a little insight into the government's reasons behind some of the policies. A staff from REACH was present to collect the feedback.

Before calling it a night, there was a polaroid photo session with ESM Goh who was extremely obliging when requested for his autograph. We were frantically searching for a black marker when ESM Goh announced that his special black pen can write on anything. Hurrah!

Although the session ended at 10.30 pm but some young adults were still engaging ESM Goh with more questions.  It was heartening to see ESM Goh telling the past events in Singapore from his PM days to these young people. Seems like a grandpa telling his grandchildren about the good old days. :)


Hey, if the grandchildren these days are interested to hear about the past, it is a good time to engage them for the benefit of future generations. Singapore is our home, all of us should play a part in making our home a wonderful place to live in.

When I left at 11 pm, ESM Goh was still answering questions despite having to fly to Tokyo the next morning. For a 70 year-old senior, he is extremely fit.


ESM Goh Chok Tong is in Tokyo to receive an award, the Grand Cordon of the Order of Rising Sun, from Japanese Emperor. It is for his contribution to strengthening bilateral ties. While there, he will meet some Japanese leaders and businessmen. Congratulations!