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SINGAPORE: The Housing and Development Board (HDB) is embarking on a public education campaign over the next few months to urge residents to adopt a zero-tolerance approach towards potential killer litter.
It will send advisory letters to all HDB households and display posters in HDB estates.
HDB stressed that with more than 80 per cent of Singaporeans living in high-rise HDB flats, it is important that every HDB resident plays an active role in building a safe living environment for all.
HDB has been working with town councils, grassroots organisations and religious organisations to educate residents on the danger of killer litter.
The number of warnings served on residents by HDB and Town Councils for placing objects in a dangerous manner has gone down by about 40 per cent, from about 7,800 per month in 2007 to about 4,650 per month last year.
However, in the first eight months of this year, there was a slight increase to 4,900 warnings per month.
HDB said it takes a serious view of any irresponsible or negligent act that would endanger the safety of others in public housing estates.
It also stressed it will not hesitate to take strong action against recalcitrant offenders, including bringing offenders to court, and in serious cases, compulsorily acquiring the flat.
Replying to queries from MediaCorp, HDB said that from 2006 to 2008, it had served warning letters to 12 lessees or tenants for offences relating to killer litter.
HDB compulsorily acquired one flat in 2005 after the owner was convicted of throwing killer litter.
Some potential killer litter items include items hung from bamboo pole holders such as potted plants, brooms and mops, and bird cages hung from the ceiling above the parapet wall.
In a separate statement, three religious organisations have come out in support of HDB's moves to stop killer litter incidents.
They are the Singapore Buddhist Federation, the Taoist Federation (Singapore) and the Wat Ananda Metyarama.
They have advised residents not to place or hang objects in places where they could easily fall off and pose a danger to public safety.
The organisations stress that it is not in line with religious practices of compassion to place and hang religious items like altars, urns, and incense burners above parapet walls, windows and common properties in a precarious manner.
- CNA/yb
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