Singapore — The East Coast Plan that was much in the news during the recent General Election has been brought up by members of the public after news circulated on social media about beaches being lined with piles of rubbish.
On Wednesday (July 29), Facebook user Kenneth Wong uploaded photos of piles of rubbish on the beaches along the east coast.
https://www.facebook.com/kenneth.wong.146/posts/3034714163318155
Driftwood, plastic items and even a dead pufferfish were in the debris.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=3034752426647662&set=pcb.3034714163318155&type=3&theater
Facebook user Geoff Ang confirmed the situation the following day. About a month ago, another user, Glenn van Zutphen, had uploaded and commented on a similar photo.
https://www.facebook.com/geoff.ang.photographer/posts/10157143370755811
https://www.facebook.com/glenn.vanzutphen/posts/10158674042706942
According to a 2019 straitstimes.com report, marine rubbish getting washed ashore is a yearly occurrence due to the South-west Monsoon season from June to October. The debris includes stuff from ships and neighbouring countries.
In response to the latest posts, members of the public have made reference to the East Coast Plan mentioned by Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat while he was campaigning for East Coast GRC during the recent General Election. Facebook user Richard Ng hoped that Mr Heng’s plan includes keeping the beaches clean. Others, however, were keen to do something about it themselves.
Photo: FB screengrab
/TISG
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