Community rangers will be stationed at the Bukit Purmei hillock park to deter would-be vandals from destroying park amenities. The police will train these ranger volunteers to handle vandals.

Bukit Purmei residents have had enough of vandals destroying their park and are forming a "park watch" group to protect it. Upgraded last November at the cost of $11 million, the Bukit Purmei Hillock Park is now in a sorry sight. With defaced barbecue pits, potholed jogging tracks and broken water pipes. Several pebbles in the foot reflexology paths have been removed, and in the marble seats of the pavillion were scrawled.

The vandals started work just weeks after the completion of the area's interim upgrading programme on the 15 block Bukit Purmei estate. This is tucked between Telok Blangah and the Keppel Distripark and the hillock, formerly a dim spot where drug addicts gathered.

Mr Lee Yew Lee, 50, chairman of the Bukit Purmei Zone 'A' RC, was so disgusted by the vandals' work that he has gathered some residents and roped in the police to help keep watch of the park. The park watch scheme, is the first in line with the community focus plan by the police and the Community Development Councils, said Mr Lee. These plans aim to get residents to solve their neighbourhood problems themselves.

Application forms for the volunteers have been distributed to residents who are regular users of the park. Volunteers will pledge to keep a lookout for vandals, counsel the culprits or surrender them to the police. They will also maintain the park's cleanliness.

Said Mr Lee: " We hope to get about 30 to 40 volunteers, for a start. The police will give them a talk, teach them how to approach vandals and, at the same time, educate them to be good, responsible citizens."

He believes many will come forth to support the scheme. " It doesn't take up much time or effort on their part," he said. "All we ask is that they pay more attention to their surroundings while they are using the park."

- Abstract from the Straits Times
Wednesday, February 10, 1999

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