Student says Chinatown is ‘Singapore’s dirtiest place’ and too horrible to look at, more enforcement officers may be required

Plastic cups with unidentified liquids, empty bottles and rubbish everywhere – a student in Singapore said that Chinatown in Singapore was now “synonymous with dirtiness.”

A nearby eatery with empty beer bottles and more rubbish strewn on the floor further proved the student’s claims.

A video posted on Saturday (Jul 16) by TikTok user @zeinsg, saying he was a student named “Ah Ze”, has gone viral online for its depiction of Chinatown.

@zeinsg

Why Singapore’s Chinatown so dirty? That is insane! Is there most unclean place in Singapore? #singapore #chinatown

♬ original sound – 阿泽在新加坡 – 阿泽在新加坡

“Why Singapore’s Chinatown so dirty? That is insane! Is there most unclean place in Singapore?” he asked in the caption.

Ah Ze then provides a glimpse of the area. Trash and empty plastic bottles were scattered across the ground outside the People’s Park Complex.

The video transitions to a row of plastic cups along the walkway railing. The cups were filled with unidentified liquids of different colours. One even had a used face mask on it.

“Is this still the global Garden City that many people recognise?” he asked.

The situation doesn’t improve at the nearby eatery, with used chopsticks, utensils, plates, and beer bottles covering the floor.

Diners seemed unfazed that the floor under them was littered while they ate.

Ah Ze, who stayed in New York for a while, confirmed that the Chinatowns in Manhattan and Queens were in similar conditions.

He pointed out that Chinatowns worldwide are venues for overseas Chinese to feel at home and indulge in truly authentic Chinese cuisine.

It is a “window into understanding China,” he added.

However, Ah Ze couldn’t understand why the area reached such a state. He ended the video with a message to his countrymen, urging them to be more responsible for their behaviour when abroad.

Netizens agreed with Ah Ze and wondered if more enforcement officers were needed.

“Sad to say, foreigners’ level of cleanliness differs from local standards. NEA should make more trips there to help educate the people,” commented TikTok user Hew.

“The only way to educate is to fine them so they will feel the pinch and keep the place clean,” added TikTok user alsonfunny. /TISG