SINGAPORE – A photograph of a poster put up by the Marine Parade Town Council disallowing games of chess at common areas drew the ire of netizens on Sunday (March 13), with many asking how a seemingly quiet game of chess could end up being an issue.

The photo of the poster, which read “No playing of chess at common areas”, was posted on Wake Up, Singapore’s Facebook page on Sunday afternoon with the caption: “Marine Parade Town Council, what is wrong with you? This is NOT Majulah”. No other details were given, such as where or when the poster was found.

Marine Parade Town Council clarified later in the day on its Facebook page that the poster was placed only at Block 11, Haig Road, and that it was not one of its “standard” posters.

The post said: “We had received feedback from residents at the said block that the chess players are causing a nuisance and were playing till late night. In addition, the chess players and onlookers sometimes will block and obstruct the pathway of a covered linkway, causing inconveniences to others.

“As such, this poster seeks to advise and remind these chess players not to play their games there and to be considerate to others,” the town council added.

Late last month, a report of railings set up to stop football games at the void deck of a Housing Board block in Queenstown also stirred an online debate. One The Straits Times reader urged the town council to leave void decks void, while another called the railings an eyesore. Editor of citizen journalism website Stomp Mr Azhar Kasman said in an opinion piece that he was saddened by the ‘slow death’ of void decks.

Void deck railings set up at Queenstown HDB block

Click on thumbnail to view photos. Source: 

The Straits Times

huizhen@sph.com.sg

SINGAPORE – With void decks in the limelight recently, netizens were riled up by a photo of a poster saying “No playing of chess at common areas” that went viral on Facebook today (March 13).

The photo was posted on Wake Up, Singapore’s Facebook page at about 1.30pm with the caption “Marine Parade Town Council, what is wrong with you? This is NOT Majulah.” and no further details of where and when the poster was found.

The photo has since been shared over 1,200 times and attracted close to 250 comments, with many questioning the ban on the “silent” game.

Marine Parade Town Council later clarified on its Facebook page that the poster was placed only at Block 11, Haig Road.

“We had received feedback from residents at the said block that the chess players are causing a nuisance and were playing till late night. In addition, the chess players and onlookers sometimes will block and obstruct the pathway of a covered linkway, causing inconveniences to others. As such, this poster seeks to advise and remind these chess players not to play their games there and to be considerate to others,” the town council wrote.

Late last month, a report of railings set up to stop football games at the void deck of a Queenstown Housing Board block became a talking point. One reader of The Straits Times urged the town council to leave void decks void, while another called the railings an eyesore. Azhar Kasman, the editor of citizen journalism website Stomp, said in an opinion piece that he was saddened by ‘slow death’ of void decks.

Void deck railings set up at Queenstown HDB block

Click on thumbnail to view photos. Source: 

The Straits Times

huizhen@sph.com.sg