A complaint about high-rise littering in a block in Canberra has galvanised a group of residents to look after their community, with the help of Gabriel Lam Yen Li, MP for Sembawang GRC.
68-year-old retiree Rahima binte Samat told Petir that people staying on the higher floors had been throwing diapers, tissue paper, and empty food delivery boxes out of their units. This turned a tree behind her kitchen into a “diapers tree.” Mdm Rahima stays at Block 785A Woodlands Rise.
“Many elderly residents live in the rental block. My husband is ill. I want us to stay in a clean environment,” she said.
She contacted both the town council and National Environment Agency to resolve the issue and reached out to Mr Lam, who oversees the Canberra division, via social media.
Mr Lam quickly replied to Mdm Rahima, with his team taking action immediately and arranging for a closed-circuit television camera to be installed. The situation improved to Mdm Rahima’s relief.
“We always try to understand our residents’ frustration and why they express themselves the way they do,” Mr Lam said.
Last August, after the incident, Mr Lam invited Mdm Rahima and her four closest neighbours to lunch. He wanted to get to know them better, understand some of the issues and difficulties faced by the residents and to discuss ways to engage the community in their blocks better.
Mdm Rahima brought along her friends, which included Katie Kamala, a 69-year-old retiree.
“No one has ever invited me for lunch before, especially not an MP. The meal was a highlight for me,” Mdm Rahima said.
During lunch, Mr Lam also encouraged the women to step up and serve the community.
Mdm Katie and a few other residents recently started volunteering at the monthly food rescue organised by PAP Canberra branch. The event takes place at the void deck of their block every third Saturday of the month.
“Most recipients are elderly. Pushing the trolley up and down isn’t easy for them, so I feel we need to help them. When we do, they feel happy knowing somebody cares for them.”
Mr Lam said that engaging residents to volunteer aligns with his vision for community-driven service.
“I believe in the community serving the community, and this service must be sustainable. We can’t rely on just one group of volunteers for every event. We need different volunteer groups for different events so we can expand our reach and impact.”
Mdm Katie, affectionately considered the “village chief” of the rental block, said that she brings any resident problems directly to Mr Gabriel. “Even as a new MP, he impressed us by taking action very quickly.”
Mr Lam said: “Now when Mdm Rahima, Katie and their face issues, they approach me as a friend. We’ve helped solve several of their challenges together.”
As the block is located a fair distance from the PAP Canberra branch, Mr Lam also conducts a mobile Meet-the-People session during the food rescue.
“Fundamentally, we want to meet more residents,” he said. “At the mobile MPS, we address all issues constructively and settle them amicably.”
