17. Petition

1. The owner hopes high officials would make clear an issue that has become messy. MPs wrote to HDB many times, but instead of a direct reply they let HBO (Head, Pasir Ris HDB Branch Office) replied. Neighbourhood Police Centre was tasked to investigate, yet they missed out important evidence. They are aware of HBO's high standing and choose not to do anything. Therefore this letter to high officials.
 
2. The owner wrote that officers at the Branch Office were involved with the neighbour over a long period of time and HBO covered it up through an extensive network of contacts. The owner saw a cover-up in the behaviour of the neighbour, officers, CC members (Community Centre members) and others. Some examples are in the previous post Authority (16).
 
3. The neighbour used noise to negotiate with the owner. Loud noise, noise through the night and, at times, reduced noise to appease after the owner met with MP and after he posted in his blog. They take their cue from the officers and are assisted by the-people-in-the-flat-across-the-neighbour so that their workers could take shift working through the day. The arrangement between the officers and neighbour has become binding on one another. It is untenable for the neighbour to be working in their flat without the officers looking out for them and the officers need to keep their cover by supporting the neighbour if only to keep them quiet.
 
4. Insiders are a counter to the officers. It would seem they assisted the owner by letting on so that he could defend himself. Afterall, he is at the mercy of the officers and the neighbour. There were many examples of such assistance:
 
a) A Branch Office's officer was sent to inform him of the eviction at the neighbour's flat in '99.
 
b) An insider stopped the neighbour four years earlier before the current complaint.
 
c) Insider removed the maid who was not registered to work at the neighbour's flat. She was substituted for workers in the flat once the neighbour knew the owner was keeping watch.
 
d) The force-entry at the neighbour's flat was followed by an old friend meeting the owner in the evening of the same day. He was to meet him four more times. The last time, in which noise came down, was a few days after the owner's email to the newly elected president.
 
e) He also called immediately over the phone after the owner emailed the prime minister about a resemblance of name between a high official and HBO. At the time there were postings on the web about the high official.
 
f) A 15-seconds message on perceived injustice with a return address was broadcast over TV after HBO replied to the owner he may engage his solicitors to resolve his problem.
 
g) Insider sent the blind copy between HBO and the Chairman (Residents' Committee) to the owner to coincide with his meeting with the Minister-in-Charge of Civil Service at MPS (Meet-the-People Session).
 
h) The interviewer introduced the owner to a CC member not long after he was turned away by the Minister at the MPS in Item g). From their conversation, the owner gathered the CC member was in contact with the-people-in-the-flat-across-the-neighbour.
 
i) Town Council's letter, which was cc to HBO with the Minister's letter as attachment to indicate no action was needed on his part, stated the owner would hear from HDB soon but no officer came.
 
j) Bedok Police Division did not reply to the owner when the matter was transferred to them after the email to the president in Item d. They did, however, reply the first time he wrote to the previous president one and a half years ago. Neighbourhood police was asked to investigate then. But the Commanding Officer's reply was they "were unable to find evidence of alleged noise or criminal offence" that ignored the-people-in-the-flat-across-the-neighbour.
 
k) Pronouncements made by Ministers were quoted in the owner's blog. It seemed to him they could be referring to his case.
 
l) Civicadvocator.net published the owner's first post, and he took from the site the use of the title "'Strange' business going around at HDB flat?" when he started a blog of his own. It could appropriately refer to the stationing of the-people-in-the-flat-across-the-neighbour. The post is at Help (69). The owner also asked them to moderate comment when http://civicadvocator.net/a-hdb-flat-dweller was set up separately. It did not take off. Civicadvocator.net had since been closed.
 
m) Another blogsite that had been closed had a number of articles which included one where an official was rebuked in Parliament by Minister-in-Charge of Civil Service. The site had the name "wayang". One of its articles may have been picked up by the news agency Reuter before the rebuke of the official.  
 
5. The owner went to see the MPs in his constituency for a year after which he seek out blogsites to publicise. The thought of writing a blog did not occur to him until he realised no one would bring up his problem publicly. Not used to writing, he thought he should be able to get the gist out. After blogging for two years a point was reached when noise was lessened with the post President (26), which was an email to the newly elected president. In fact, he had posted just before the general election, the Hougang by-election, the presidential election, and would have posted at the Punggol East by-election had there been no reduction in noise. Opposition parties could speak up because it concerns public interest, and so do foreigners from human rights perspective. When they do, could high officials ignore them? Could ministers put the government's reputation at risk?
 
6. Noise is back after the first two week when Authority (16) was posted last month. Rumble and knock could be heard in all the rooms that would affect a person taking a nap or concentrating on his work. Heavy thumps could be heard early in the morning, late at night and at other times. Works is through the day.
 
7. At 4.45 am on Saturday, 11 Dec 10, there was a huge thump followed by a few knocks. The owner woke, turned on the light, and wrote the first draft of this letter. Noise the following Monday was muffled, and the man from the-flat-across-the-neighbour showed himself in the evening. He could be signalling to the owner. Since last Monday there was less noise, but the same types of noise continued to be heard.
 
8. Because ties could be used to hurt, people prefer to keep quiet. Have such become a norm in Singapore? High officials, ministers and president, beside others, were emailed at each posting. Yet none spoke up. Some have supported, but always indirectly.
 
9. Whether by rules or principles the complaint against officers has to be attended. Rules are "attempt to tell you what to do," but are often inadequate because they could be evaded. In contrast, principles instruct one "not what to do, but how to decide what needs doing." It is therefore morally wrong for high officials to allow HBO to act as though there is no wrongdoing on his part.