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A truck driver has been fined S$1,000 for feeding the monkeys. He was initially ordered to pay a $4,000 fine which was eventually reduced to $1,000 after he appealed to the High Court on account of his financial situation. The new benchmark punishment for feeding monkeys is now set at a $3,000 fine.
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I agree with the many people who say Singapore is a FINE city. But I also agree that getting tough is the only way to go. Despite the warning signs posted in the parks and the public education being dished out, I still see people feeding these creatures every week when I'm at the park.
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Sure, these monkeys are cute but they get too bold and aggressive when they do not get food from people like us. They also breed too quickly and invade people's yards. These monkeys have an abundant supply of berries and fruits in the forest, they do not need handouts from us. But, many people don't learn even when the laws get tough on them.
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We read about fatal road accidents every other day as a result of people not belting up. Yet, I still see many cars on the highways with kids not properly seated. The newspapers have been highlighting the tragic consequences, yet many still don't get it. If they really care about their kids and loved ones, shouldn't they practise safety always?
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What does it take to make people sit up and listen? In the case of Singapore, the most effective way would be to impose a heavy fine. Even that may not work. The penalty for using mobile phone without handsfree set while driving is very high, but I still see people doing it openly.
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It frustrates me when I see these young, educated but irresponsible people on the road. What good is education if they can't use their commonsense!
18 comments:
well...maybe so...but sometimes you need rules to keep the city looking as nice as it does! and SQ is a NICE city!
Right on sistah!
I once saw a woman with a baby at the back seat, she was backing out to the street, but her hand/head were on her phone, and she almost hit a car while backing out! If anything happened at that moment, her baby would be the first to get hurt!
And just last week, two good and responsible students were killed in an accident, and they weren't wearing seat belts! Two young lives are gone forever, that's just sad!
Few days ago, I saw this family in a car. Two young boys (both below 5) were sitting on the front passenger seat, the toddler sister was at the backseat. All not belted.
On the highway, a mother was holding her small baby up so that he could look out of the (half opened) window. He was sticking his hand and straining to stick his body out too.
I get so angry when I see senseless acts like this. I looked at them angrily and then she wound up the window and pulled the child down.
They're not doing me a favour, for goodness sake! They probably think I should be minding my own business but really, don't take your kids lives for granted.
It does get infuriating when people disregard rules that are meant to help, and even protect.
Even here, I see most drivers using their cell phones, some even putting make-up and doing their hair while driving!
It drives me mad too, when I see people blatantly breaking the rules. Why don't people realise rules are there for a reason, and a lot of the time it's for your own safety.
GREAT post. We do need to be careful indeed, esp. when it's about people's lives.
Unfortunately in Indo, the seat belt thingie was only imposed about a few years back and they're only for those people who sit at the front part of the car. I also don't think that many people use the baby car seats for babies or kids as they're VERY expensive, even for middle-class people.
Seriously, I don't understand why people have to pick up a call (w/o handsfree that is). If its really an impt call, the person will sure to call back again or we could call them back after stopping our car.
I agree wholeheartedly that rules are needed. But the other main thing is enforcing these rules. Take for instance here. We have LOADS of rules but our wonderful authorities don't seem enforce them at all. In fact, bribery seems the way to go here ... siggghhhh ....
There was this quote in the newspaper once.. "common-sense really isn't that common".
People like these kind of prove that!
In South Africa we had problems with monkeys being fed and becoming agressive, but not much problem with safety belts. Safety belts for both front and back seats became law there quite a long time back. Of course you still get stupid people who don't listen. My aunt is one. She won't wear a safety belt. She says they are "irritating". I'm betting a big fine, or being dead, would be more irritating. Come to think of it... the biggest irritation is people like her who think safety laws are stupid. :-\
Hi Jac - Yah, it's amazing what people do on the roads. If only they knew they're not only risking their own lives, they're also endangering the lives of others too.
World - If only people use their common sense more often, alot of serious accidents would have been prevented.
Amel - Actually it is a shame because babies get thrown out of the car too easily on impact. Recently an entire family got killed on the Malaysian highway. All died except the infant who was thrown out of the car and landed 10m away from the wreckage. Very tragic.
janice - I think people take their phone calls too seriously. I always see pedestrains using the phone on the road. They're so engrossed in their phonecall, they don't even see where they're going.
Nick- Yah, sadly I agree with you. When I was driving up to Cameron Highlands few years ago, I was flagged down by the Traffic Police twice. each time they tell me, I could issue you a summon for RM$200and you would have to go find a police station to pay up OR you can settle it privately with me now.
Michelle - These are the people who stop by the roads leading to the park and throw food out to lure the monkeys just so that they can entertain their kids. They're the ones who don't have to deal with these aggressive animals because they don't set foot into the parks.
Our safety belt rule has been in place for along time.When my kids were younger, they used to hate it but still we would strap them in their seats whether they are screaming away or not. Now that they're older, it has become an automatic procedure.
Of course, I used to tell them,you're not doing me or the Police a favour by wearing seatbelts, you're doing yourself a favour.
Yeah, now I understand more the danger...especially the way they drive in Indo...such a mess!!! It's a surprise that there aren't many more road accidents there. :-((((
I agree with PFE, It is worrying to see how some people it seems that they were born to break the rules and they don't care about who they will be hurting with their actions!
BTW, I love the picture of the monkey :)
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