S’pore retiree ordered to clear decade-old secret garden in Choa Chu Kang forest

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Singapore – The owner of a garden the size of a three-room flat located in Choa Chu Kang was ordered to clear the area by the Singapore Land Authority (SLA).

A 75-year-old retiree who wished to be known as Mr Goh was required by SLA to clear his secret garden, which has served as his hideaway for the past ten years, reported The New Paper (TNP) on Friday (Mar 26).

A hiker had stumbled upon the area and alerted SLA. After an inspection on Mar 19, Mr Goh was told to clear the site and vacate it by Apr 9.

“We have placed an advisory at the site requiring all items to be removed by Apr 9. Such cultivation constitutes a trespass offence under the State Lands Encroachment Act,” said an SLA representative to TNP.

“I visit the garden almost every day, especially in the morning after I take my grandson to school. My wife joins me on the weekends. It is a quick bike ride, and I am there in 30 minutes,” shared Mr Goh, who was an avid gardener.

The report noted it was his retirement dream to set up a small space for gardening. Mr Goh’s secret garden is located about five kilometres from his flat in Choa Chu Kang and approximately two-and-a-half kilometres from the main road.

“I have no place to do gardening at home, so I built a small garden and a makeshift shelter years ago. I have grown bananas, mangoes, papayas and even some herbs,” said Mr Goh to TNP.

“I would rather have this hobby than sit in a coffee shop all day doing nothing.”

Mr Goh’s daughter, who runs a home-based business, understands the basis for SLA’s order to vacate the area. “After all, he is using state land,” she said.

“But I also feel sad because he told me this is the retirement life he has always wanted, and he doesn’t know what to do after this. It breaks my heart to see him upset.”

She revealed that Mr Goh had applied for an allotment garden plot under the National Parks Board’s Allotment (NParks) Gardening Scheme in 2020 but was waitlisted.

“I am sad, but I have no choice. I will try to ask (SLA) for an extension because I just planted seeds for new herbs and want them to grow before I leave the place,” added Mr Goh.

In response to the news, a member of the public, Jimmy Tan, took to Facebook to note that he had submitted feedback to the relevant authorities through the One Service app.

“Hindering the retiree from his gardening hobby goes against our advocacy for active ageing,” said Mr Tan. “In traditional societies, the elders are respected for their wisdom and experience. SLA or NParks should hire him to teach our young generation how to cultivate the land for self-sufficiency to ensure food security.”

Others noted that the relevant authorities should be “more compassionate” about Mr Goh’s situation and should offer him a suitable place where he could continue his passion for gardening./TISG

新加坡退休人士下令清理蔡Chu港森林中已有十年历史的秘密花园

新加坡–新加坡土地管理局（SLA）责令拥有位于Choa Chu Kang的三居室公寓大小的花园所有者来清理该区域。

据新报纸（TNP）周五（3月26日）报道，SLA要求一名75岁的退休人员，他希望被称为Goh先生，以清理他的秘密花园，该花园过去十年来一直是他的隐居之所。。

一名远足者偶然发现了该地区，并通知苏丹解放军。经过3月19日的检查后，吴先生被告知要清理场地并在4月9日之前撤离。

SLA代表TNP表示：“我们已在现场安排了一项咨询，要求在4月9日之前清除所有物品。根据《国家土地侵占法》，这种耕种构成非法侵入。”

“几乎每天我都会参观花园，尤其是在我带孙子上学的第二天早上。我的妻子在周末加入我。骑自行车的速度很快，而我在30分钟内就到了。”狂热的园丁Goh先生分享道。

报告指出，他的退休梦想是建立一个小的园艺空间。Goh先生的秘密花园距离Choa Chu Kang的公寓约五公里，距离主干道约两分半公里。

“我没有地方在家从事园艺工作，因此几年前我建造了一个小花园和一个临时庇护所。我种了香蕉，芒果，木瓜，甚至还种了一些草药。”

“我宁愿有这种嗜好，也不愿整天坐在咖啡店里无所事事。”

吴先生的女儿经营一家家庭企业，她了解苏丹解放军下令撤离该地区的命令的依据。她说：“毕竟，他正在使用国有土地。”

“但是我也感到难过，因为他告诉我这是他一直想要的退休生活，而他不知道此后该怎么办。看到他不高兴让我伤心。”

她透露，吴先生已于2020年根据国家公园局的配乐（NParks）园艺计划申请了一个配菜园地，但被列入候补名单。