why can't I pick fruits from trees around HDB estate?

It's mango season again, and lots of mangoes seen hanging from the trees surrounding my HDB estate. A lot of people are wondering why it's illegal to just climb-and-pluck or use a modified pole to harvest the fruits.

My guess is that plucking fruits from trees are prohibited in Singapore probably due to several reasons (as listed below).

1. Food for birds (and fauna) in Singapore. In addition to landscaping and reinforcing-the-soil surrounding HDB estate, fruit trees can be food for birds, insects, bats, and squirrels (if there is anyway, but unfortunately I didn't find one in my estate). Singapore is rich in migratory (as well as local) birds and we are proud of the diversity of birds here.

2. If plucking/harvesting fruits from trees are allowed, then certain quarter of people will take advantage and "mass-harvest" these fruits. There is no stopping people from doing that nor selling these fruits later. It will be bad for local fruit sellers. In addition, fruit trees surrounding HDB belongs to HDB (or the general public if there is no restriction), but a free-for-all rule will be chaotic. Remember that we have "kiasu" (Hokkien meaning "afraid to lose out") culture here and there will surely be people hogging these trees (I'm guessing).

3. HDB liability due to injury from harvesting (or climbing the trees) is not applicable here as the injury sustained would be due to an illegal act, and anyone who wants to proceed with lawsuit against anyone wouldn't bite

Well, although it is illegal to pluck/harvest fruits from these trees, the enforcement is not strict (FYI I've not seen anyone got fined for smoking nonchalantly, and throwing rubbish indiscriminately). It all depended on civic consciousness of the majority who avoided breaking the "no plucking" rule (or plainly following rules). For those who complained about rotting fruits, think of it as natural fertilizer. If it gets really bad, e.g. mass putrefication and smell, just call the town council to clean it up. So far, my rambutan trees with their fallen fruits have not caused any problem. Similarly, the emperor cherry trees with putrefied fruits aren't causing any unpleasant smell. Instead, these trees and their fruits have attracted plenty of insects, butterflies, bats (that fed on insects), birds, and other fauna.

Just a thought.

Reply to "Touching video shows people in Singapore helping a tissue seller"

This piece of news showed how Singaporeans cared. Although the news tried to portray Singaporeans in a good light, I felt that being too generous in giving cash to "tissue sellers" can be a danger. It is like an addiction to these people. It won't take long for real "vultures" to swarm the place and set up begging scams. These vultures will have no qualms in recruiting children, amputees and people of certain criteria to fit in their only intention - GO FOR THE SPOILING. Hence, I strongly felt obliged to put my thoughts into this.

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Empower people don't condone begging! Being too generous in paying to beggars will backfire in the worst long-term condition. Do realize the danger of begging scams mushrooming, the kind that misuses children, or amputees, or whatever creative method they can think of to elicit more money. Disability don't place people as unable to earn an honest living. We should give these people dignity (and equal opportunity) rather than just sympathy and money. In Singapore it is illegal to beg and hence beggars are seen "selling tissues". Having noticed an increase of these people on the street, the government tried to put a stop to this trend by suggesting the unpopular requirement for license to these people who are "selling tissues". It didn't work. I hope someone from NUS or NTU Social Sciences department will conduct a research on this topic and get to the root of the problem and find a solution to this worrying trend.

However, it doesn't take an expert to understand that when there are more generous people in the giving, there will be more people (scammers) who will dive into begging. I still remember the previous presence of "monks" asking for alms in currency ($). Luckily not a lot of us were willing to give in to them and hence, we don't see a mushrooming of these people.

Just a thought.
 
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My pledge

I will not defame people; I will provide my honest opinion with minimal emotional baggage (which often will cloud anyone's thoughts), I will engage in constructive criticism as best I can; I will provide arguments based on facts (gleaned from more than two sources) and not through rumor or unsubstantiated word-of-mouth; I will be biased to certain stands, but I will try to accept the fact that the population are made up of people with unique thoughts and believes, and I shouldn't strive to impose my thoughts/believes on them; I will not bear grudge on anyone who doesn't think alike and instead, I should show respect (or just ignore) the best I can (even to the unreasonable and unruly people); I will do onto people how I want other people to do onto me. The last part speaks all.