SINGAPORE: An anonymous passer-by was shocked to witness a young girl squatting and relieving herself at a public playground in Tampines. She was accompanied by her father and sister, as seen in photos and a video.
The passer-by said the young girl was playing in the playground before the incident happened. “I didn’t see peeing, but she was pooping. That’s very clear.”
The young girl was seen wiping her bottom with a wet tissue, while her father was squatting in front of her. The passer-by admitted that the incident was a shocker, with the girl’s family allowing the act in broad daylight, and in the middle of all the HDB blocks.
“And it’s at a playground where so many kids are playing. For them to actually do business there is just mind-blowing.”
On social media, netizens expressed their thoughts and opinions about the incident. One commenter stated that the public should approach the family and tell them that what they were doing was wrong. “Civic-mindedness is very important in our community. Our positive mind and attitude towards our safe, clean and green environment is our responsibility.”
Another netizen remarked: “Children, we need to excuse them, sometimes as emergencies can be challenging to handle.”
One more netizen said that if the parents clean up the mess, then there is nothing to say, but if they do not clean it, then it’s a different story.
Urinating or defecating in public in Singapore
Under Singapore laws, no one is permitted to urinate or defecate in any street, arcade, vacant land, river canal, ditch, drain or watercourse, or in any place where the public has access.
Moreover, no person is allowed to spit or expel mucus from the nose on any street, floor, a public service vehicle, or any place to which the public has access. Anyone who is seen violating these rules will be guilty of an offence under the Environmental Public Health (Public Cleansing) Regulations.
The National Environment Agency (NEA) will take appropriate action against anyone caught in such socially unacceptable behaviour. Anyone found guilty of such an action for the first time can be fined up to $1,000.
Additionally, not flushing the toilet and urinating in elevators are considered breaking the law as well. Elevators are usually equipped with Urine Detection Devices (UDD), which detect the smell of urine, set off an alarm and close the door until the police arrive to arrest the offender.
