Gho Sze Kee, MP for Mountbatten SMC, has established a dispute resolution unit under the PAP Mountbatten division. This unit provides a one-stop solution for resolving neighbourhood disputes early and cultivating a kind, caring community.
Ms Gho told Petirthat a small team of dedicated volunteers makes up the unit, which formed in May 2025, shortly after the general election.
“Residents in dense estates like Mountbatten live very closely together. When tolerance levels wear thin, small issues can quickly escalate if they remain unresolved. We wanted to intervene early, before ill will and resentment become entrenched,” she explained.
Ms Gho has seen how residents clearly needed quicker help with neighbour disputes.“They were already coming to Meet the People Sessions for assistance, so we wanted a more immediate and coordinated way to respond.”
Her team typically handles disputes involving noise, smoking and littering from higher floors. These cases are “not easy to handle” and “require a lot of time and patience to resolve”.
The first step involves having senior party activists speak to both parties to de-escalate the situation, understand both sides, and explore whether they can work out a practical resolution informally.
“We believe in intervening quickly to prevent things from getting too heated. We always ask residents to take a give-and-take approach when dealing with neighbourhood disputes.”
Her team provides a one-stop solution that achieves “practical and immediate results” through collaboration and good will. Sometimes, she noted, the main goal is simply to restore understanding between neighbours.
The long-serving volunteers know the neighbourhood well and have earned residents’ trust, she added.
“The activists have good bedside manner and do their best to calm tense situations. They are patient, calm, and have the right temperament to handle sensitive matters.”
One case that stood out for Ms Gho involved two couples with young children. The couple living in the lower unit complained about excessive noise from the unit above.
“We visited both units and had each couple listen to the noises being made,” she said. “They reached a consensus on how to reduce noise on both sides. That was a very happy outcome.”
Daniel Tan, Branch Secretary of PAP Mountbatten division and the volunteer who leads the unit, told Petir that he strongly believes in giving back to the community in whatever way he can help.
“I have lived in Mountbatten for many years. This place is home. It’s my kampung. I feel personally invested in keeping it a place where residents feel safe and comfortable, where they can rest after a long day.”
He shared that before the unit was established, volunteers left disputes to relevant agencies to resolve. Now, the team collaborates with agencies only when they cannot resolve the disputes themselves.
When these efforts fail, the team guides residents to formal resolution channels such as the Community Mediation Centre or Community Disputes Resolution Tribunals.
Mr Tan recounted helping an elderly resident who believed her neighbour was stalking her and tampering with her power and water supply. The woman was understandably distressed.
The team accompanied her to her unit and checked the power and water sources in her presence to reassure her that everything functioned properly. They also secured her power meter to give her additional peace of mind.
“Our role was to calm her fears, regardless of whether we could substantiate her concerns,” he said. “By addressing her worries directly and reassuring her, she became much calmer. The neighbours were also relieved as the situation de-escalated and tensions eased on both sides.”
“The key in such situations is to act quickly, address the concern directly, and help the resident feel safe and supported.”
Ms Gho also emphasised that early intervention proves crucial in dispute resolution.
“The longer a dispute continues, the harder it becomes to resolve,” she said. “Once positions harden and emotions build up, restoring trust becomes much more difficult.”
Another challenge, she noted, occurs when residents refuse to engage. In such cases, they must involve relevant agencies to support the process.Regardless, PAP Mountbatten branch is always there to help facilitate amicable outcomes, and to help mediate between neighbours.
Said Ms Gho, “We always want to make Mountbatten a kinder and more caring place to live.”
