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Neighbourhoods

Resident 'angry and disgusted' to see man in uniform smoking at Ang Mo Kio bus stop

By Town Tales Pro Editorial 4,814 reactions
Sheltered bus stop on a city street near residential blocks
Illustrative photo. Location: sheltered bus stop along Ang Mo Kio Avenue 4.

A contributor who asked to be identified only as Mr Tan told Town Tales Pro he was waiting for bus 269 at Block 628 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 4 on Monday evening when he noticed a man in what appeared to be a Singapore Armed Forces uniform lighting a cigarette under the sheltered walkway.

"I was angry and disgusted," Mr Tan said. "Schoolchildren were walking home right past him. The no-smoking sign is right there on the pillar, maybe two metres away. He did not even try to hide it."

According to Mr Tan, the incident occurred at approximately 5:45pm, during the period when primary school students typically pass through the area. He said the man smoked for several minutes before boarding a passing bus. Mr Tan captured two photographs showing the individual with a cigarette and what appeared to be SAF-issued boots and a pixelated uniform top.

What the rules say

Under Singapore's Smoking (Prohibition in Certain Places) Regulations, smoking is prohibited at bus stops, sheltered walkways, and within five metres of their boundaries. NEA enforcement officers can issue fines to offenders caught smoking in prohibited areas. Wearing a military uniform does not exempt anyone from these regulations, though Town Tales Pro has not independently verified whether the individual was an active serviceman.

Mr Tan said he considered confronting the smoker but decided to submit the photos to Town Tales Pro instead because he felt the behaviour set a poor example for children in the neighbourhood. "If you wear the uniform, people look up to you," he said. "This is not the image we want our kids to see on the way home from school."

Community response

Since publication, the story has drawn over 4,800 reactions on our platform, with commenters divided between those who condemned the smoking and those who argued that servicemen deserve privacy during off-duty hours. Several contributors from the Ang Mo Kio area have submitted similar reports from the same bus stop in recent months, suggesting a recurring issue rather than an isolated incident.

Town Tales Pro has reached out to the Ministry of Defence for comment. This article will be updated if a response is received.