Residents living at a flat in Yishun, Singapore, are at their wits’ end due to one of the resident’s habit of burning incense for hours every single day.
As a result, this has led to residents being forced to live in a smoky environment or invest in air purifiers just to breathe a little easier.
SG man burns incense for 3 hours every day
One of the residents told Shin Min Daily News that the man’s habit of burning incense left him feeling “deeply disturbed”.
While claiming that he had nothing against any religion, he said the man would often burn incense powder at irregular times every day.
The incessant burning would then produce a thick smoke that would linger in the air for hours and cause others to experience discomfort.
As such, this had led him to putting fans in the corridor to blow the smoke away so that he and his wife wouldn’t choke on it.
“Even if I were to close the doors and windows, the smoke will still seep through and now I have to fill the gaps with cloth and tissues,” he ranted.
Another neighbour told the Chinese daily that the man would burn incense during the wee hours of the morning, where it would go on for the next two to three hours.
She added that was forced to buy an air purifier which cost hundreds of dollar, adding that she was particularly angered by the fact that the man would close his own doors and windows while burning the incense.
Potted plants also an issue
Aside from the incense, neighbours also had a bone to pick with the man over the potted plants placed outside his unit.
Residents said the plants were often not trimmed, resulting in the already narrow walkway being more difficult to walk along. Many also raised concerns over mosquito breeding.
They also added that despite multiple attempts to talk to the man, he became rude and uncooperative.
Defended incense burning as “religious freedom”
Reporters from Shin Min later interviewed the man surnamed Guo (transliteration) and inquired him regarding his neighbours’ grouses.
Guo, who is unemployed and a follower of Tantric Buddhism, defended his actions by claiming the act of burning incense was his “religious freedom” and that he couldn’t dictate which direction the smoke would waft off to.
When pressed further on the odd hours and quantity of incense powder he used, Guo became irritated and accused neighbours of “constantly targeting” him instead of informing him nicely.
He also complained that the fan’s noise made him unable to sleep at night and claimed authorities allowed him to keep the potted plants and merely asked him to arrange them nicely.
Continual monitoring
When approached by Shin Min, Nee Soon Town Council said an inspection of the walkway was carried out and had advised the man to reduce the number of plants and trim them to lessen the clutter.
The situation will continued to be monitored from time to time as well.
It also urged residents to make an effort in keeping common areas clean and free from obstructions so that everyone can live comfortably.
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