SINGAPORE: A dramatic family dispute unfolded in Toa Payoh after a pair of parents, opposed to their 21-year-old daughter’s relationship, scattered joss paper outside her boyfriend’s flat when she refused to return home.
The incident occurred at around 1pm on 22 July at Block 51, Lorong 6 Toa Payoh.
Police were called to the scene, and after several hours of mediation, the young woman, a polytechnic student, eventually agreed to return home.
Speaking to Shin Min Daily News, the woman’s father, 54-year-old Yang (transliteration from Chinese), said his daughter had been “trapped” inside her boyfriend’s flat.
He said that when he went to pick up his daughter, the young man called the police to stop him.
When reporters arrived, five or six police officers were seen outside the Toa Payoh unit.
They appeared to be mediating between Yang, his wife, and their daughter, who refused to come out.
An emotional Yang explained that his daughter, Chen (transliteration from Chinese), had been in a relationship with the man for several years.
While they initially did not intervene, the parents grew increasingly unhappy over time.
“Her boyfriend doesn’t have a proper job and has a serious skin condition. We opposed their relationship, but she didn’t listen, so our relationship became more and more strained,” Yang said.
Daughter Refused to Go Home
According to Yang, Chen had stayed at her boyfriend’s flat for two days and promised to return home on 21 July.
When she failed to do so, Yang went to the flat and confronted the boyfriend.
The next day, Yang and his wife returned in another attempt to bring their daughter home.
She refused and called the police instead.
A red envelope containing joss paper was left outside the unit, with more joss paper scattered along the corridor.
Next to the envelope were two cans of beer and an empty wine bottle, along with a written message symbolising the cutting of ties.
Yang admitted he had placed the items there in an attempt to provoke the couple into opening the door.
“I Need Space”: Daughter
Police officers reminded Yang and his wife that their daughter was already 21 years old, and persuaded the young woman to return home that night.
Chen later told Shin Min at her boyfriend’s home on Wednesday (23 July) that she had gone back the previous night as agreed.
She said she was no longer quarrelling with her parents but had returned to her boyfriend’s flat because she needed “some breathing space”.
She added that she does not want to fight with them and hopes they will understand her better.
She also said she would try to visit home as often as possible.
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