Killer Litter (2)

Watch your head when you are walking at the foot of a HDB flat in future.

Just yesterday, it has been reported in the newspaper another fatal killer litter incident where a inconsiderate woman killed a wedding guest when the flowerpot she threw landed on his head.

In response to the rising number of killer litter cases in Singapore, the HDB is now taking more serious actions against offenders.

Over the next few months, it will send out warning letters to about 900,000 HDB residents, urging them to remove dangerously-placed items at high-rise buildings, and to report neighbours who fail to do so.

Warning posters would also be placed in strategic areas in the residential areas to send out a clear message - There would be zero-tolerance to offenders who litter dangerously. The maximum punishment for offenders would be now heightened to $2000 fine as well as 2-years jail serving term.

It is comforting to see that at least the government is taking actions to curb this dangerous threat, but I still personally feel that punishment and stern warnings on one particular matter is not the best approach to solving this problem.

The bigger and greater picture the government should see is the tackling the root of the problem - inconsideration for others. Most killer litter case are either caused by inconsideration, or because the offender is mentally ill.

If I am very close to my neighbours, even if I am inconsiderate, I wouldn't want to throw dangerous and bulky items down my window and threaten my good friends' safety. But if I don't know my neighbours and they are strangers, I probably would't care. So, rising killer litter case might indicate a lack of unity and comradeship amongst the residents.

Some solutions to deter offenders:

"Soft" solutions to the bigger problem:

• Town council to organize more resident-bonding events like games or walkathons
• To encourage residents to get to know each other
• Educate residents on the importance of caring and thinking for others

"Hard" solutions that solely focuses no killer-littering:

• Heavy fine
• Long jail term
• Step up on security - installation of secret security cameras to identify culprit

Of course, the most ideal solutions are the "soft" solution. The mindset of the people is the most important. When people start becoming more considerate, kind and caring for others, many other problems in the society caused by inconsideration would disappear too.

Only when people are more considerate, then can we achieve the great vision of being a gracious society.