SINGAPORE: Over the weekend, Jalan Kayu SMC Member of Parliament Ng Chee Meng introduced an initiative aimed toward serving to residents residing in his ward. The considering behind it’s this: if you happen to ever alight from the bus and it’s raining and you don’t have any umbrella, it gained’t be an issue.
As Mr Ng put it in a Fb publish, “Ever gotten caught within the rain with out an umbrella? We’ve all been there.”
Due to this fact, Neighborhood Umbrella Racks at the moment are being tried out at two bus stops alongside Jalan Kayu Rd, Bus Cease 68059 (After TPE) & Bus Cease 68051 (Earlier than TPE).
Photographs put up by Mr Ng confirmed a rack along with his title and face that reads “Pay it ahead, keep dry.”
Fb screengrab/ Ng Chee Meng
Folks in want of an umbrella can take one and return it after they’re accomplished. Moreover, those that have further umbrellas at residence are inspired to carry them to the rack in order that their neighbours can use them.
The initiative got here from residents, and Mr Ng thanked them in his publish, calling it “a small concept with massive coronary heart,” and including, “That is our Jalan Kayu neighborhood looking for each other.”
Whereas plenty of commenters on the MP’s publish praised the neighborhood spirit behind the initiative, others had been considerably pessimistic that it may very well be sustained, gloomily predicting that the racks would quickly run out of umbrellas.
“Good intentions, but it surely won’t work, as all umbrellas will probably be gone quickly. This isn’t a brand new concept. Others have tried however had no success, as all umbrellas disappear after some time. To implement the sort of concept should pay a deposit for the price of the umbrella earlier than with the ability to utilise it and get refunded solely when returned,” one steered.
“Sadly, Singapore society is one which has gone backwards… these umbrellas will probably be gone inside per week,” one other wrote.
“Good intentions don’t at all times translate to good consequence,” a 3rd opined.
In 2018, Member of Parliament (Jurong GRC) Rahayu Mahzam launched the same mission at Toh Guan property. Nevertheless, in response to reporting from CNA, inside a month, the umbrellas positioned in neighborhood racks had disappeared because of the “ungracious” behaviour of residents who took them however uncared for to carry them again.
At Joo Chiat in November 2023, greater than 1,180 umbrellas had been made accessible to be used at Joo Chiat Sharella kiosks discovered at bus stops. Nevertheless, the mission was completely shut down in early 2024 as a result of hardly any of the umbrellas had been returned.
Hopefully, the Jalan Kayu Neighborhood Umbrella Racks could have extra success. /TISG
Learn additionally: Joo Chiat Sharella: No extra “kindness umbrella” to share as a result of folks don’t return it again to kiosks
