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New tribunals to help resolve disputes between neighbours

SINGAPORE — Feuding neighbours will soon have another avenue to settle their differences, with the setting up of specialist tribunals in the State Courts under the newly-passed Community Disputes Resolution Bill.

SINGAPORE — Feuding neighbours will soon have another avenue to settle their differences, with the setting up of specialist tribunals in the State Courts under the newly-passed Community Disputes Resolution Bill.

Cases can be heard at the tribunals as soon as the second half of this year, though Culture, Community and Youth Minister Lawrence Wong yesterday emphasised that legal recourse should be used only as last resort.

During a debate on the Bill yesterday, Members of Parliament (MPs) raised concerns of “trigger-happy” residents invoking the law to find fault with their neighbours, and called for safeguards against a climate of litigation.

Of the 14 MPs who spoke, only Non-Constituency MP Lina Chiam stood against it. She was concerned that aggrieved parties would dispense with community mediation and immediately seek legal redress. “It may not necessarily solve the root of the problem and may even escalate problems between neighbours,” she said.

Explaining the rationale for the Bill, Mr Wong said living in close proximity could give rise to tensions between neighbours.

While voluntary mediation is one solution, no-show rates at the Community Mediation Centre (CMC) are high — about 60 per cent each year.

In 2013, the centre saw 525 cases, down from 610 in the year before. And in 2011, it handled 593 cases.

Since opening its doors in 1998, the CMC has mediated more than 7,000 community disputes, of which three-quarters were resolved. Common disputes include noise complaints, dripping laundry and the use of common spaces.

Addressing the House yesterday, Mr Wong said legal recourse should be used only to deal with intractable cases.

Under the new legislation, a person could bring a claim against his neighbour — for unreasonable interference with his enjoyment or use of his residence — to a tribunal. The court can then order the neighbour to undergo mediation, apologise, pay damages of up to S$20,000 or cease a certain action.

Should the neighbour ignore the court order, a special direction can be issued to promote compliance. A third party — such as the neighbour’s landlord or caregiver — could be ordered to enter a compliance bond and be imposed with certain conditions as part of the bond. Failure to comply with the compliance bond could result in the third party being fined up to S$2,000.

As for the neighbour, further breaches could result in a fine of up to S$10,000, a jail term of up to three months or both.

Mr Wong assured the House that the tribunals would base their ruling on the facts of each case. “(They will be) using a commonsensical approach in light of everyday experience ... they will take into (consideration) our unique multiracial and multicultural context in considering what’s reasonable and excessive,” he added.

Anticipating a surge in cases once the tribunals are opened, Mr Wong said training for community leaders would be stepped up.

The CMC currently has 162 mediators and can handle about 5,500 disputes yearly.

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