Little India riot: Take immediate action to protect residents

For the last 10 years or so, residents in Little India have voiced their concerns to various government agencies on the overcrowding and disamenity caused by foreign workers congregating in the area, as well as their excessive drinking and rowdy behaviour, and the traffic problems.

Their greatest fears have come true ("Riot breaks out in Little India"; Monday). What is perhaps more appalling is that our Home Team officers, who were there to maintain law and order, were injured in the riot.

Immediate action must be taken to prevent similar incidents from occurring and ease the fears of residents. Such measures may include:

- Installing fencing and security gates at all HDB blocks in Buffalo Road, Chander Road, Klang Lane and Farrer Park, akin to those at Design, Build and Sell Scheme flats where only residents and their guests are allowed to enter.

- Banning alcohol sales and consumption within 1km of residential areas in Little India. Enforcement officers should patrol the area on weekends and arrest offenders.

- Stopping private transport operators from bussing foreign workers to Little India. The buses parked along Hampshire Road pose a danger to road users and encourage foreign workers to congregate in the area.

Lee Kok Leong

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