In a letter to the Straits Times on Wednesday, Ms Sek Hwee Leng said she was told by her resident committee (RC) chairman to “be tolerant” when she complained to him about the noise which the RC activity centre was making.
The centre, which houses a karaoke lounge and a room for a live band, is located beneath her flat, Ms Sek said.
She had moved in more than a month ago and has had to “put up with noise from the karaoke room whenever it is being used, till as late as 11pm.”
Ms Sek has made complaints to the police which had advised the RC not to use the room past 10.30pm. Ms Sek said the RC “has complied with this most of the time.”
She said, “I have invited the RC chairman to observe the noise from my home, but he said it was bearable and urged me to be tolerant. He added that the KTV room had been around for 20 years and nobody had complained about the noise.”
She added that while she understands that living in an HDB estate means she has to put up with some inconveniences, she hopes the authorities will nonetheless review the use of void deck space for noise-generating facilities. (Read Ms Sek’s full letter below.]
In the past, there have been similar complaints of noise from karaoke activity from the RCs.
In 2010, Mr Sobban Munyandy wrote to the New Paper and said:
My family has to live with the ‘singing’ of tone-deaf people belting out Chinese tunes from noon to 10.30pm, seven days a week – complete with vibrations felt through the floors of our hall and common bedroom.
When I made a complaint to the TC about three years ago, they told me it was an issue I should raise with HDB.
But when I e-mailed HDB, they threw the matter back to the TC, and finally the RC got involved.
The RC head and two HDB employees paid me a visit with a noise detection device and said the noise was of a decent level. I lost it and felt that it was pointless to pursue the matter.
Letter by Ms Sek in full:
Void-deck KTV room not music to the ears
MORE than a month ago, I moved into a Housing Board unit directly above a residents’ committee (RC) activity centre, which houses a karaoke room and a room for a live band.
Since then, I have had to put up with noise from the karaoke room whenever it is being used, till as late as 11pm.
I have contacted the police, who advised the RC not to use the room past 10.30pm – and it has complied with this most of the time.
I have invited the RC chairman to observe the noise from my home, but he said it was bearable and urged me to be tolerant. He added that the KTV room had been around for 20 years and nobody had complained about the noise.
When I confronted the people using the room, they were not aware they had to stop by 10.30pm.
While I understand that I am living in an HDB estate and have to put up with some inconveniences, I hope the authorities will review the use of void deck space for noise-generating facilities, by considering the following:
– Has the room been sufficiently soundproofed?
– Are there any clear guidelines to keep the noise at a manageable level? The RC chairman said some users would request that the volume be turned up, so it seems there is no limit to how loud they can be.
Sek Hwee Leng (Miss)
