[Life and death]
This week's been another busy one and I know that there's more to come now that I have more responsibilities.

I've been added into another grassroots committee - the community club management committee.

I've been enjoying my political science classes and can explain to you why scholars say that Singapore is not as democratic as it is. Or that Singapore might even be authoritarian (some say it is competitive and authoritarian) while others say that Singapore is pseudodemocratic.

But that is not the story that I want to tell. The story that I want to tell is not based on ideals. It is based on reality (at least through my own eyes).

I once wrote a piece titled "Why do we always have to wait for things to happen". In that piece, I told the story of how the death of an NSman shed some light on unauthorised military training methods. In that article, I questioned.

In March this year during a routine block visit cum dialogue session, residents at Hougang Ave 10 had asked Minister to take action regarding an unsafe crossing - two fatal accidents had occured (one in November last year and one in January).

Minister had ordered immediate feedback to the LTA. For a long time, grassroots leaders have been writing to the LTA, trying to explain that it is imperative that they take action to make the road safer. Time after time there was no action.



It is not because of the lack of feedback. One thing I do not understand is why it took the LTA three deaths and five months to finally install a new crossing and a fence on the road divider. But I am still glad that the feedback was taken into consideration. But at what expense you ask. I keep my fingers crossed and pray that there will not be anymore deaths along that road.



The traffic lights were brought to life one day after the fated death. Coincidence or just pure bad luck? I am not sure but LTA may have the answers.

Two nights ago, there was another block visit but this time it was at a different location. The general questions that surfaced at a dialogue session was about LUP (lift upgrading programme), insufficient carpark lots and fire hosereels in view of the recent spate of block fires.

It is clear that feedback from residents is important. I remember Michael Palmer saying that one should take ownership of his or her own neighbourhood. And when such feedback is given it shows that residents are concerned. But residents are urged to do more - to join the residents' committees - to be involved.

Well at least, feedback does not fall on deaf ears. But I do not have an answer as to why some things take longer than others to be put to action.