A senior citizen has been spotted urinating daily in the public areas of an HDB block, creating a foul odour that troubles both businesses and residents in the area.
Ongoing Problem at Block 17
An elderly man in his 80s faces accusations of regularly urinating in public spaces near Block 17 at Beach Road. The man argues that his weak legs make it impossible for him to walk to the nearest toilet facilities.
Shin Min Daily News received reports from readers about the elderly man who allegedly urinates daily on the grass patch below the HDB block.
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When reporters visited the location, they detected a strong urine smell.
One anonymous business owner revealed that the elderly man has been frequently visiting the area and urinating publicly for about two years.
The business owner said the smell after he urinates is extremely unpleasant, but they feel helpless.
Their only solutions are to request cleaners to clean the drains more often or to hope for rain to wash away the smell.
Another resident, Mr. Wang (name transliterated from Mandarin), 54, mentioned that the area is a popular gathering spot for many elderly.
He used to sit there to chat with others but has moved farther away after noticing the smell about a year ago.
“Besides that elderly man, some other old men have started copying his behaviour and occasionally urinate in public too. Maybe because they rarely see authorities around, and nobody stops them, they just do whatever they want,” said Mr. Wang.
Accessibility Issues Cited as Reason
Mr. Wang pointed out that there are toilets available at the nearby hawker center and coffee shop, but many people are simply too lazy to walk there.
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Based on observations, the hawker centre and coffee shop are approximately 70 to 80 meters away from the HDB block.
The elderly man accused of public urination, Mr. Chen (name transliterated from Mandarin), 80, admitted during an interview that he urinates on the grass patch.
However, he explained that his legs are too weak for him to walk to the coffee shop to use the toilet.
“I know what I’m doing isn’t right, and old people’s urine smells stronger, but I have difficulty moving around, hence it’s really hard for me to climb the steps to the coffee shop,” Mr. Chen said.
Mr. Chen lives with his younger brother and has no other family members around.
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His only joy is chatting with neighbours downstairs, where he typically sits for several hours and needs to urinate multiple times during this period.
He mentioned that authorities have previously warned him. To reduce the smell in the drains, he now urinates on the grass instead.
Another elderly man who was also accused of public urination refused to discuss the matter when approached by reporters.
He only stated that the photo was taken last week and that he would not repeat the offence.
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