‘Why is this allowed to happen, and why is there no enforcement?' — Singaporean dismayed by the state of Lazarus Beach after migrant workers' day-off gathering
SINGAPORE: A local man who visited Lazarus Beach over the weekend said he was 'dismayed' by the state of the area after large groups of migrant workers gathered there to unwind on their day off.
Posting on the r/askSingapore subreddit on Monday (Jun 16), the man shared that he was initially happy to see many foreign domestic workers and labourers enjoying themselves by the sea. However, his sentiments changed when he saw the condition the beach was left in.
According to his post, snack wrappers and beer cans were scattered across the sand, with some even floating in the water. He also noted that public sinks were being used as 'makeshift showers,' while toilet floors, which were clean earlier in the day, had become slippery and grimy.
He further claimed that some individuals had trespassed onto private resort grounds. 'I saw several of the men enter the private property of the resorts, get chased off by a helpless single staff member, only to return the instant she turns her back,' he wrote.
Another issue that particularly upset him was the fishing. 'I saw men fishing and catching and keeping even baby fish—something local anglers advocate against because it destroys the sustainability of the hobby,' he said.
'Why is this allowed to happen, and why is there no enforcement?' he asked. 'The sight of the once pristine and beautiful Lazarus beachfront was, for the weekend, turned into a sight of callous environmental destruction – and nothing was done to stop it.'
Despite his criticism, the man clarified that he was not against migrant workers using public spaces. 'I have long advocated that they do need a day of rest, and places to be – I have zero issue with their congregation at hotspots like Paya Lebar, East Coast, Farrer Park, and whatnot. They are also people, and people need spaces and community. What I cannot accept is the STATE of how they leave these spaces and places. I think we need to take an honest look at their behaviour every Saturday/Sunday.' 'It's infuriating, to say the least, that they're not respecting the public spaces…'
In the discussion thread, one user said, 'I'm with you on this. Groups of MW are always playing cricket in this open field every weekend, and they leave behind lots of trash.
I have reported on One Service and note that there are several cameras in the vicinity, but I'm not sure if any actions have been taken since you'll almost always get the generic responses that they'll look into it, and then a couple of days later, the case is closed. It's infuriating, to say the least, that they're not respecting the public spaces.'
Another suggested, 'Report to Nparks. Suggest they deploy officers there to curb littering.'
A third stated, 'Their numbers are large (e.g., all concentrated on Sun), and there's a lack of enforcement here, so that's what we get.'
However, not everyone agreed with the negative generalisations. One user stepped in to defend the migrant worker community, writing, 'I actually saw most of them cleaning up at the end of the day. Collected their litter in a large plastic tarp and placed it next to the bin.'
In other news, a diner took to social media to highlight a troubling incident at ABC Brickworks Market and Food Centre, where people allegedly stole cutlery and crockery from a hawker stall.
In a post shared on the r/SingaporeRaw subreddit on Sunday (June 15), the diner uploaded photos showing a hawker, the missing utensils, and a handwritten sign.
The sign read: 'Dear customers, in the past 10 operating days, 41 forks and 10 plates have been stolen. As a small Singapore business promoting sustainability, we kindly request their return. Authorities will be involved soon. Thank you and God bless.'
Read more: Hawker appeals for the return of 41 forks and 10 plates stolen at ABC Brickworks Market and Food Centre
Featured image by freepik (for illustration purposes only)
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Still, Cheah is drawn to such impassioned customers precisely for their quirks. For his keen understanding of their inexplicable connection to their clocks, some have said that his price, while not cheap, is 'money well spent' – a compliment as rare as a VdS authenticity certification. Customers are usually willing to pay more for repairs than they paid for the clock. Repairs start from S$160 for a small cuckoo clock without a music box, with the final cost depending on the extent of work needed. At the higher end, a clock's repair cost once exceeded S$2,000. While he requires payment upfront, he guarantees a full refund if he's unable to fix the clock – which he hasn't needed to do since he started his business. 'Because I'm relatively expensive, I think my price will filter out all those people who feel that the clock is just a clock. Whoever comes to me, usually the clock means something to them. Some may say it out loud, some may not, but who would normally want to pay more for repairs than the clock costs?' he said. 'My tagline is I don't repair clocks – I look at myself as a restorer of memories. That gives me the motivation to do a good job. The best thing that's kept me going all these years is the joy I bring to the client.' And the feeling is mutual. 'Some people play golf, some people go fishing. I repair clocks, and I make money out of it too. When I'm repairing, I feel like I'm in another world. It's very strange, but that's the time when I feel the most relaxed. I'm totally at ease," he shared. In his cosy studio, barely five steps from the door to his workbench, Cheah enters his zone. He pulls up his toolkit and opens the back of a clock, gently tinkering with its movement. Then the cuckoo bird pops out of its little window. A pair of dancing figurines begins to circle the wooden platform, as the familiar refrain of Edelweiss fills the room.
