Simpang Bedok mango tree dispute

Shop owner rushes back and saves tree - again
The New Paper 4 Jul 08;

AT 7.50am yesterday, Mr Gabriel Tan, 52, rushed from his home at Pasir Ris to his shop at Simpang Bedok.

His mission: Saving a tree.

He had received a call from another shop owner informing him that a contractor was preparing to cut down the mango tree in front of their shops.

This was the same tree Mr Tan has been fighting to save since the management corporation (MC) of Bedok Shopping Complex decided the tree should be removed.

The New Paper reported on 6 Jun that the decision was apparently taken after the owner of a private house next to the tree complained about leaves falling into his backyard.

However, the home owner said at the time that he had asked for the tree to be pruned, not cut down.

Yesterday, when Mr Tan arrived at 8.30am, the area around the tree had been barricaded.

He waited until the contractor's vehicle, parked beneath the tree, was moved away.

Then, he and other tenants who also wanted to save the tree moved the barricades and Mr Tan drove his pickup into the parking lot at the foot of the tree.

That was what he did to foil previous attempts at cutting down the tree.

Seeing that Mr Tan's pickup presented an obstacle to them, the contractor and his workers moved the rest of the barricades and left.

'I'm prepared to leave my vehicle here for the next few days,' said Mr Tan, who added that he never wanted this to be a big issue.

He has been appealing to save the tree since 17 May, when the MC first tried to fell it.

He claims that he has not been shown the minutes of the meeting during which the felling of the tree was apparently decided.

'They have every right to cut the tree if the paper work has been done correctly.

'I'm just asking them not to cut down the tree until the next annual general meeting, so we can vote on it,' he said.

Mr Tan said there had been previous attempts to cut down the 17-year-old tree.

ALERTED BY SUPPORTERS

'They are trying to catch me off guard, but my supporters here call me immediately if they see anything,' said Mr Tan, who has had an audio equipment shop there for 12years.

Around 10.30am, an MC member, who declined to be named, arrived to check out the scene and left after speaking to Mr Tan and other tenants.

When approached by The New Paper, the MC member declined to comment.

According to Mr Tan, the MC member gave his word that the tree would be safe for that day.

Soon after 11am, the estate's managing agent, employed by Kenwood Property Consultants, arrived.

Mr Tan said the agent, Mr Samy, told him that he could not see the minutes until he sends in a written request. Even then, there is no guarantee that the tree will be spared.

Mr Samy then called the police, saying that Mr Tan had committed an act of vandalism by moving the barricades.

The police arrived at around 11.45am. They later issued a statement confirming that 'no assault or threat took place' and that the parties involved were asked to 'settle the matter amicably'.

Mr Tan said the MC gave other reasons yesterday for wanting the tree removed, such as the roots damaging the road and posing a danger to passers-by.

He said a trained botanist had examined the tree and found it to be 'healthy' and had also said it did not pose any danger.

Two other shop owners, Mr Neo Wang, 68, and Mr Kwek Khan Che, 53, also want the tree saved.

Mr Neo said in Mandarin: 'The tree has been here for so many years, none of us want it to go'.

Concerned that the tree may not live to see the end of the week, Mr Tan said: 'I've done all I can for 1 1/2months.

'If more people like me will fight to save a tree, decision-makers will think seriously before they make such decisions'.

The tree was still standing at press time.

By Shila Naidu, newsroom intern

‘My right’ to save mango tree in backyard
Christie Loh, Today Online 4 Jul 08;

HIS efforts to save a 17-year-old tree from death-by-chainsaw have led to angry blows nearly being exchanged, police reports being filed and neighbours taking the opportunity to air their own grievances.

For the past seven weeks, Mr Gabriel Tan, 52, has tried to stop the management council of a shopping complex in Simpang Bedok from cutting down the healthy mango tree outside his audio equipment shop.

“(When) I see trees being felled on the road, I know I have no say. I feel sorry,” he said. “But this tree is, in a sense, in my backyard. I have a voting right.” So, Mr Tan decided to “take up the fight”.

The complex is majority-owned by the Far East Organisation; shopkeepers and residents own the rest.

On three occasions now, Mr Tan has stayed the chainsaw by parking his pick-up under the tree. Some neighbours lent a hand; they say they are frustrated with the council’s lack of consultation on matters such as carpark fee hikes.

The third attempt on Wednesday, however, has gotten Mr Tan and others into legal hot soup. Those who moved the barricade around the tree have been reported to the police for “criminal mischief”, council spokesman and assistant secretary Siva Kumar said yesterday.

Another police report concerned “assault”.Mr Siva said one man, hurling abusive words in Hokkien, physically challenged council treasurer Low Chuan Hee to a fight.

A civil suit may be filed.

“It’s sentiment against safety,” said Mr Siva. The committee feels the tree’s roots have damaged the pavement; it may even collapse one day. “Chopping the tree down will save a lot of (trimming) cost and liability issues.”

They wonder why Mr Tan had not protected another mango tree, which was cut down the same day they tried to fell the one still standing.

“It could be, he’s being selfish,” said Mr Siva, pointing out that Mr Tan’s vehicle enjoys the tree’s shade everyday.

While the decision to fell the tree this week is “final”, the council will hold a dialogue this Saturday with disgruntled shopowners and residents.