Darryl David on Community Disputes Resolution (Amendment) Bill

A new Community Relations Unit (CRU) will have the power to direct neighbours to attend mediation if they have failed to resolve their disputes between themselves. MP Darryl David asked how it will be determined that sufficient effort has been made, adding that he hoped the bar will not be set too high such that the CRU is inaccessible for most complaints. In Parliament on Tuesday (Nov 12), he also spoke about management of alleged offenders. He asked if the relevant authorities would consider preventing alleged offenders in well-known cases from moving to a different housing estate until the matter is resolved or the authorities are sure they will not cause further nuisance. Otherwise, it will be a case of transferring the problem from one estate to another, he said. Mr David asked if the authorities would consider requiring all flat owners to sign a letter as part of their HDB Flat Eligibility application, undertaking to refrain from creating a nuisance, and informing them clearly of the consequences of breaching that undertaking.