A Response to news articles regarding flood in Orchard Road last week

Dear Editor,

I refer to 18 June's ST article 'PUB's work comes under scrutiny' where Members of Parliament and experts "questioned if a lack of maintenance was behind the flooding of Orchard Road on Wednesday". While I do agree that PUB may need to increase the frequency of drain checks, I wonder how much of the debris that had caused the drain to be choked had been made up of tissue paper, plastic wrappers and other types of litter carelessly tossed by pedestrians who assumed that our regular army of cleaners would clean them up. 

It is typical of Singaporeans to cry for blood and find someone to take the blame when things go wrong. However, this incident may be a timely reminder indeed, that our littering habit has finally caught up with us and nipped us in the butt where it hurt most. Damages caused by the flood could amount to hundreds of thousands, if not millions. 

While authorities such as PUB can install more sensors to detect rising water levels and so on, the average Singaporean can also look at his own part to blame in this disaster. Perhaps, just as the flood was made up of millions of small drops of rain water, ultimately creating the massive force that swept through Orchard Road unexpectedly, the debris that choked the drain at Orchard Road may also have been the consequence of several bits of litter thrown by inconsiderate Singaporeans daily. 

What's worse, while business owners were frantically trying to save their goods from being soaked by the gushing flood water, passers-by happily looted the goods that had floated out of the shops, some even asking their friends to join them. Does this behaviour reflect our status as a developed nation? 

If the flash flood had taken place during the Youth Olympic Games, I would be more embarrassed by Singaporeans' behaviour than by the flood itself.

(An edited version of my letter was published in the Straits Times on 19th June.) :)

The Curious Case of the Handbag-carrying male

You would be hard pressed to find a Singaporean man carrying a handbag when alone. In our island state however, Hammy has observed a curious phenomenon- men carrying their girlfriend's handbag for them. Most of the time, it is a small, dainty carrier. The man carries it along with her shopping, slung over his shoulder as nonchalantly as if he has carried it every day of his life, while his girlfriend saunters down Orchard Road with nothing in her hands.

Some men say that they do it because they care; I can't say the same for the girlfriend though. Why in the world would you make your man look so effeminate carrying your little pink pouch? Most of the time, it seems to be an issue of ego. Doggy cares for me too, but with gestures like remembering special events, my likes and dislikes, often observing quietly. He does carry my shopping, but never my handbag. Girls who allow their boyfriends to carry their handbags seem insecure, as if the bag lays claim to him. The pink tote says a lot, "This man is mine. What can yours do for you?" Lots, I'm afraid.