SINGAPORE: Police presence will be stepped up in Little India following Sunday’s riot that left 39 people injured.
This will extend to areas where foreign workers congregate, and also on weekends, holidays and festive periods which typically see large crowds gathering.
Singapore’s Transport Minister Lui Tuck Yew told reporters this on Monday, adding that he is looking at ways to tighten liquor access in the area.
Mr Lui added that Sunday’s riot is a “very, very serious” incident.
“We sometimes take our peace and tranquility for granted. This is a reminder that things can flare up and we need to be prepared,” he said.
The day after the riot at Little India, Mr Lui, who is also Member of Parliament for Moulmein-Kallang GRC, visited residents and business owners to reassure them.
The area comes under the GRC’s purview, and following the riot, Mr Lui said he is considering a limit on the number of liquor licenses in the area, the amount of alcohol sold, where it can be consumed, and the hours during which it can be consumed.
Mr Lui said he and fellow MPs for the constituency had discussed with Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean about the ongoing consultation on what changes should be made to liquor licences.
“What we had wanted to do is limit the number of liquor licenses within this area, because our feel is that in Little India, the number of licenses that had been given or being used has increased too significantly, and too much for our comfort,” he said.
Mr Lui pointed out that he has seen success in other areas of the constituency in terms of getting support, citing Balestier as an example.
“We have strict limits on pubs, massage parlours, karaokes and budget hotels. So there’s been a freeze for a number of years on such establishments,” he noted.
He added that it is important to understand why the workers behaved the way they did, but that this will take time.
Mr Lui said: “I don’t want to cast this as a foreign worker versus us situation or try and overlay a racial tone to it, because I don’t believe that is the case so far.”
He was also asked if there was any indication that the riot was fuelled by alcohol, but
emphasised that it is hard to say “definitively” why the situation turned out this way.
Mr Lui said: “When I came down to Race Course Road last night and I was able to pass those who had been taken under the police custody, I think in my mind, it was quite evident in smelling the environment, that alcohol could have been a contributory factor.”
He added that beer bottles and beer cans were among items used to damage vehicles in the riot.
Mr Lui added that there is a need to look carefully into how big a part alcohol contributed to the severity of the rioting.
Business owners and residents said it is not uncommon for minor alcohol-related disturbances to break out on weekends.
But some feel the authorities should shift their focus to the area’s traffic situation, and find solutions to prevent congestion, which can lead to fatal accidents.
Sunday’s riot was sparked by a fatal traffic accident.
Manikandan Ramalingam, a waiter at Banana Leaf Apollo Restaurant, said: “Normally every Sunday there will be a problem, but not like this.
“Because of this accident only — normally they just drink and fight. I didn’t expect it.”
J Tay, a Little India resident, said: “Just that I think there are too many liquor shops around, and there are more and more.”
Police officers and the town council worked though the night to clear the streets of the damaged vehicles and other debris in time for the start of the work day.
With almost all signs of yesterday’s turmoil and violence cleaned up, it is business as usual for many business owners along Race Course Road.
But some were hit much harder than others.
Workers at a fruit and vegetables stall had a lot to clean up after their produce was destroyed during the riot.
The riot may be over, but for some retailers, their work has only just begun.
Police to step up presence; MPs consider tightening liquor access in Little India
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