Yishun knife attack: Residents can seek out different channels to resolve disputes, say MPs

• Dialogue and mediation, often facilitated by MPs or the Community Mediation Centre, are the initial steps in resolving disputes.
• Unresolved disputes can be escalated to agencies like the HDB or the Community Disputes Resolution Tribunals.
• MPs Yip Hon Weng and Liang Eng Hwa emphasise the importance of maintaining social cohesion and providing clear pathways for resolution.

He pointed out that there are steps in place for such disputes to be resolved.

This begins with MPs or volunteers helping to open up a line of communication between the sparring neighbours, to allow both parties a platform to voice their concerns and hear each other out.

“This works for some cases. Often, when we first bring them to meet up, they may come with some strong views and emotion.

“But this usually gives way to understanding when they get a chance to really hear each other out,” said Mr Liang, a four-term MP.

He added that most disputes he has come across involve noise complaints and cluttering along common corridors.

Through open dialogue, many who complain come to understand why some issues occur.

Mr Liang said in one case, a person who complained about loud footsteps coming from a neighbour found out that it was because the neighbour’s child was hyperactive, which led to a better understanding of the issue.

Mr Yip Hon Weng, MP for Yio Chu Kang SMC, said early dialogue and a willingness to listen can help turn conflict into friendship.

He recalled a pair of neighbours in his ward who brought their noise complaints about each other to a Meet-the-People Session. A mediation session was arranged for the pair, which helped to melt the tensions away.

“Today, they are good friends. Stories like this remind us that disputes can be resolved constructively when residents choose dialogue over confrontation,” said Mr Yip.

But he added that dialogue may not always work.

The two-term MP said some flashpoints signal deeper tensions between the residents.

He recalled a case involving a new resident, who complained that his neighbour would leave the television at a high volume late into the night.

Despite mediation, the neighbour refused to compromise as he felt he should not have to give in to a new resident in his block.

“Residents should know that there are clear pathways to escalate matters if dialogue breaks down, and that persistent troublemakers will be held accountable through proper channels,” said Mr Yip.

The comments followed a 

A 66-year-old man was arrested in the incident.

Mr Liang said when mediation does not work, he may call in the relevant agencies to deal with the issues.

This could include the Singapore Civil Defence Force if the complaint deals with fire safety, or the Housing Board for noise complaints.

Disputing parties could also go through the Community Mediation Centre (CMC), which uses trained volunteers to conduct 

Between January and November 2023, the CMC received around 1,200 cases of disputes between neighbours.

Of the cases reported over that period, 195 cases were mediated successfully.

Mr Yip said unresolved disputes could also be escalated to the Community Disputes Resolution Tribunals (CDRT), which hears disputes between neighbours involving acts of unreasonable interference with the enjoyment or use of places of residence.

Mr Cory Wong of Invictus Law said the tribunal is accessible to the layperson and can be pursued without getting lawyers involved or incurring hefty legal fees.

Once a claim is filed, the court can fix a compulsory mediation for the involved parties, along with appointed professionals, to see if a settlement agreement can be reached.

Parties who come to a settlement can register their settlement agreement as a CDRT order, if both consent to it.

If one party breaches the settlement terms, the other can enforce the settlement agreement in the same way as a CDRT order, which would facilitate quicker and simpler recourse.

“But of course, if settlement cannot be reached, then the case may then have to go for a simplified trial, and the court could thereby make an order to restrict or compel certain behaviour for the relevant party or parties,” said Mr Wong.

Neighbours can also be ordered to attend mediation, following amendments in November 2024 to the Community Disputes Resolution Act.

The changes saw a new 

It began its one-year pilot in Tampines.

The CRU can step in when alerted if a noise dispute remains unresolved despite efforts at mediation by HDB or other front-line officers.

Lawyer Riko Isaac of the firm Amolat & Partners said those who are currently facing disputes with their neighbours can also seek out professional advice just to understand the options they may have.

LIMN Law’s Ng Kai Ling said it would generally advise clients to consider mediation conducted by a neutral third party before reaching that stage, unless there is an immediate risk or threat to their safety.

Affected residents should also document the source of their complaints in the event that they need to seek legal remedies, she said.

“Because mediation is a voluntary process, there can be no mediation if one party refuses to mediate. In such circumstances, the resident may consider applying to court for a protection order,” said Ms Ng.

Invictus Law’s Mr Wong said the police should be called if matters escalate to the point of immediate danger or harm, including property damage, criminal intimidation or violence.

“A case like this cannot wait any more because the matter would have by then already turned criminal, as opposed to simply being a neighbour dispute,” said Mr Wong.

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