MP Alvin Tan urges residents to be considerate after 70 LED wreaths are placed opposite Pek Kio CC

SINGAPORE - Tanjong Pagar GRC MP Alvin Tan has appealed for residents to be considerate to one another after more than 70 LED wreaths were displayed along Gloucester Road for a funeral wake.

That number far exceeds the 10 allowed under the National Environment Agency’s guidelines.

In a Facebook post on Nov 9, Mr Tan said that residents of Pek Kio and Farrer Park had expressed concern over the placement of the wreaths opposite Pek Kio Community Centre.

“The way the wreaths were placed also obstructed lines of sight for motorists and pedestrians,” he wrote. “Parents and students of neighbouring primary and pre-schools had near misses because of the obstruction.”

In addition, several of the wreaths had also fallen onto the road in front of a zebra crossing, obstructing traffic and constituting a road hazard.

Mr Tan, who is also Minister of State for National Development and Trade and Industry, said the town council had reached out to the family and requested that they remove the excess wreaths.

“Unfortunately, despite the request and repeated gentle reminders, the parties involved were uncooperative and made things difficult for the town council workers,” he said. “They had also switched on all 70 LED wreaths late into the night, against Town Council’s advice.

“We fully understand and empathise with families when they have lost their loved ones. And we do all we can to support them in their time of grief.”

In an update on Nov 10, Mr Tan said the town council “physically removed the excess wreaths over the weekend”.

Fines were also issued for non-compliance with town council by-laws, he added.

Guidelines on the use of such wreaths, developed by NEA and the Association of Funeral Directors Singapore, state that the number at each wake

should be limited to 10

.

They should also be confined to the funeral wake area – such as HDB void decks or pavilions – and are subject to conditions and approvals from the town councils or relevant authorities.

The guidelines also state that wreaths should not be placed near carparks, roads, walkways, business entities or residences, which will obstruct traffic, motorists or pedestrians. They must also be placed at least 5m away from any carpark, parked vehicle or a road.

Mr Tan also said that he visits families in the constituency when they hold wakes for loved ones.

“Most of the wakes are dignified affairs, and the families do not cause disamenities to their fellow residents,” he said. “I hope we will continue to foster this community spirit and be considerate to one another.”