Is Lucky Plaza another potential riot-risk hotspot?

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An honorable member of the Coffee Shop Has Just Posted the Following:

Is Lucky Plaza another potential riot-risk hotspot?

December 11th, 2013 | Author: Contributions



Is ‘Little Philippines’ Orchard Road-Lucky Plaza area where many Filipino workers congregate weekly on weekends the next riot-risk hotspot in Singapore?

The same thing was said about Little India with many concerns but red flags previously raised by Singaporeans where many Indian workers and Bangladeshi workers weekly congregate were continuously dismissed by the Singapore Government, Ministers and Singapore Police. They claim the congregations and weekly activities were manageable and closely monitored by our law enforcement officers and not at risk or would not turn violent as some have suggested.

Yes, but this over confident claim was completely shattered on Sunday 8th Dec 2013 with the first violent riot by Indian and other workers in Little India with our police force attacked, patrol cars burnt as never seen before since our last riots in 1969.

So another frequent congregating hot spot right at Lucky Plaza in the Orchard belt with many Filipino workers remains another riot-risk hot spot too. Am I jumping the gun here with bogeyman claims and crying wolf to be dismissed by SPF and authorities?

Migrant workers with built up or pent up emotions and issues are potential risk. All it takes is another spark.

It demands tighter vigilance and patrolling by our officers. Filipinos like the Indian workers from India are used to rioting, striking, protesting in their own countries and they could do so if an event happens, especially if they have pent-up emotions.

Key issue is the low wages and high cost of living here. What is the effect of high living cost? I read from TRE news that 22 PRCs were exposed living in a HDB flat not too long ago. If you are one of the 22 PRCs, won’t you get fed-up also? Why do 22 PRCs need to squeeze themselves into a small HDB flat? Simple, rental cost too high, so all 22 chip in to share the rental cost.

It is a big risk not to be dismissed as same thing was said about migrant Indian workers (blue collar) until yesterday and they proved they can take the law into their own hands, burn property and hurt officers. Does not matter workers are men or women as they are able to do the same thing.

For Singaporeans’ and other visitors’ safety, more action is needed from SPF and authorities before we have another human time bomb turning into a law & order situation.

Another risky hot spot is the Geylang area with many congregating PRC workers or any other foreign enclaves – either for social congregation or living.

Better be alert and safe with more vigilance than sorry later if it happens. And yes it did happen yesterday to Singapore disturbing Singaporeans’ peace and making it infamously to global news damaging our law and order reputation.

But most important of all, the government needs to look at the underlying cause. It’s not liquor, by the way.

Marky Sim


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