INAPPROPRIATE. That was what 54-year-old retiree Pang Buck Seng was told of his neon green swimming trunks by two NParks officers.

The New Paper reported on Monday that the incident took place on Feb 17 at about 3pm. Mr Pang, a retired fisherman, had gone to the beach near the former Big Splash to swim and get a tan.

He was walking towards the water when he was stopped by two NParks officers, both women, at a boat storage area.

'They were very rude,' Mr Pang told TNP. 'One of them pointed at my swimming trunks and said 'cannot wear like that, wear proper swimming trunks'.'

The regular beachgoer, who goes to suntan and swim at the beach almost daily, said he tried to explain that he was properly attired in beachwear and they were 'not underwear'. 'My swimming trunks are decent. It doesn't even have a G-string back,' he maintained.

'It's ridiculous. This is the beach. Obviously I'm not going to be wearing my swimming trunks to parks like the Botanical Gardens,' added Mr Pang.

But officers insisted his trunks were improper. Mr Pang, exasperated, called the police. Police confirmed that the report had been made.

'I didn't break any law, I was not indecently exposing myself,' he insisted. Mr Pang said he would always wear Bermudas and a polo t-shirt when walking from his Marine Drive home to the beach.

An NParks spokesman, responding to TNP, confirmed that Mr Pang was indeed advised by its officers to be dressed more decently, but said the incident was sparked off by harassment of one of its officers. NParks too has lodged a police report and is seeking legal advice.

An NParks spokesman said swimming attire is acceptable at their beach parks and that the case was 'more than a case of appropriate swimwear at beach parks.'

'There are grounds to believe that our female officer has been harassed by the park user.'