ST : Little Thailand to be moved across road

Oct 3, 2010

Little Thailand to be moved across road

New park, with sepak takraw courts and other facilities, for Thai workers to enjoy

By Rachel Chang

After years of complaints from residents, grassroots leaders in Kampong Glam have a plan to 'move' Little Thailand.

The popular haunt of hundreds of Thai workers is a Housing Board estate located across the road from the Golden Mile Complex.

The workers gather there on weekends, occupying void decks, playgrounds and common areas.

Residents allege the workers litter, play loud music late into the night, drink alcohol and relieve themselves in the drains.

These workers play an important role in Singapore, acknowledged the chairman of Kampong Glam's Citizens' Consultative Committee, Mr Woon Tai Hean.

'But while the whole of Singapore benefits from their work, we carry the national burden in Kampong Glam,' he added.

Now, after years of lobbying, the area's grassroots leaders are renting from the Singapore Land Authority (SLA) a small plot of land next to the Golden Mile Complex. The hope is that the Thai workers will migrate across the street to the grounds, named Harmony Park, and residents will finally be placated.

Grassroots leaders obtained a grant of about $400,000 from the National Development Ministry's Community Improvement Projects Committee, to pay for landscaping, fencing, and facilities such as sepak takraw courts, a miniature football field and pavilions for shelter.

By the end of the year, there will also be food stalls and Thai movie screenings at night.

The Sunday Times understands the use of the land was approved by the SLA a year ago, after endorsement by the ministries of manpower and trade and industry - two government bodies directly involved in regulating foreign labour.

The problem of 'Little Thailand' arose about 15 years ago.

Until then, Thai workers would gather on weekends at a sprawling grassy area next to Golden Mile Complex, known as Crawford Park.

They were, however, driven from it by the construction of a tunnel leading to Nicoll Highway.

They began congregating across the street at HDB blocks, where a cluster of shops selling Thai food and goods soon sprang up.

Mr Woon acknowledged they were not doing anything wrong in congregating in a common area.

'That is the behavioural norm in their country,' he said. However, he added that residents did not feel safe walking home through the mass of workers.

Many attempts have been made to address residents' concerns.

A year ago, Aetos security officers, paid for by the Ministry of Manpower, began to patrol the area to ensure orderly behaviour.

The town council also schedules cleaning on weekend afternoons, which leaves the floors wet and discourages the workers from sitting there. Residents said these measures had improved the situation, but not solved the problem.

With Harmony Park, grassroots leaders hope they have found the answer. In time, they hope the park can become self-funded, with the rental fees from vendors paying for its maintenance.

They also hope residents will use Harmony Park on weekdays, making it a 'win-win situation'.

An advocacy group, Transient Workers Count Too, welcomed the idea. Said its executive director, Vincent Wijeysingha: 'Given their extremely low wages, the workers are priced out of most social and sporting venues... this space will be close to them and accessible.'

rchang@sph.com.sg