His sword story makes the cut

SINGAPORE - When Mr Walter Wu saw a group of Transcom officers tailing a man carrying a sword in Victoria Street on Dec 16, he thought they were filming a show.

The man was dressed in a hakama, a type of traditional Japanese clothing worn by men.

Mr Wu, a video editor, was in a friend's car and he looked around for cameras.

As the car stopped at a traffic junction, Mr Wu realised that the "show" was for real.

The man crossed the road near Golden Landmark shopping centre and brandished his sword at the officers. Mr Wu quickly called The New Paper.

He said: "People would want to know about it and I think TNP would cover it from a different angle." The story made our front page the next day.

For Mr Sarvanan, 26, it was second nature to call TNP on Dec 17 when he saw policemen at Gambas Avenue on his way to Yishun.

The Workplace Safety and Health personnel has been a reader of the paper since he was 15 and he knows TNP's hotline number by heart.

He saw a white plastic bag covering a body near a stationary cab and immediately informed TNP.

'I READ ONLY TNP'

He said: "I read only TNP, so why not let (the paper) know about it."

We reported the next day that the cab driver had been complaining of stomach problems and diarrhoea last Monday before leaving for work.

Another reader, Mr John Yeo, 52, was on his way to Block 110, McNair Road when he heard a commotion near the canal at the Whampoa river and saw policemen crowding round. The liquor shop owner didn't know it then, but he was at the crime scene of one of the biggest murder cases in years.

He said: "When I looked into the drain, I saw bags in the drain with human limbs poking out."

Mr Yeo called TNP. It was later revealed that the headless body of a woman had been found in the river. Mr Yeo said: "I read the paper every day for its hot news, so I want to let TNP know about this."

His story was published on Dec 13.

For having their stories published, these readers will each receive $100 worth of Manhattan Fish Market vouchers and two T-shirts worth $60. We value your calls, so keep them coming to 1800-733-4455. You can also reach us via SMS or MMS at 9477-8899, or e-mail us at tnp@sph.com.sg

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