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8 May 2012, 11.35AM

10 comments & replies |by gerrythinks (Master) | Our Neighbourhood

I quoted the above title from a comment made by the owner (Indonesian origin now PR) who is/was renting a room to others in her HDB flat.

When asked, the owner (among other things) replied: "They are all my family members and some of them are from Indonesia, whom I don't even know." This last bit was higlighted by the reporter in his/her article.

I am not offering any position on what her motives were/are. I only want to comment on the cultural truth of the highlighted statement:

I lived in Jakarta for 9 years. I married an Indonesian.

I can honestly tell you that TILL TODAY we get calls from her RELATIVES whom she CANNOT RECALL AND DOES NOT KNOW and we need to double check with her relatives in Indonesia that she does know--that the people visiting are indeed relatives!

Culturally, the "Family Circle" in Indonesia extends to the outer planets of the solar system. The basic "rights" and considerations allocated to even the outer circles of "relatives" are similar to those closest in the inner circle --outwardly at least! And this is a LARGE GROUP OF RELATIVES.

So when this Indoesian lady who now lives in Singapore says that she gets calls and visits constantly from her relatives 'SOME OF WHOM SHE DOES NOT EVEN KNOW"... I am inclined to believe it is true.

804 views | 10 comments & replies |

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Guest

10 May 2012, 3.03PM

I just think that our IRA is sleeping.

Hey, these are revenues for our country too.

i PAY tax for renting my room, but these *****s foreigners get tax free. NO FAIR leh.....

Guest

8 May 2012, 1.01PM

Indonesia has 120 Million population.

They are ALL her relatives "whom she does not even know".............of course lah!

All 120 Million "relatives" stay in her $60 / night room, she "huat ah"!

Guest

9 May 2012, 2.32PM

In a globalised community, don't we have many relatives we do not know and many relatives we have not seen or know of their birth? Do you know your cousin's children (born overseas) faces and names?

Can anyone claim to know all his/her relatives?

What is your point?

Guest

9 May 2012, 3.06PM

Sorry. I was not clear there.

My point was, the owner has given themselves license to continue running their illicit business, by claiming everyone who stays there, is their "relative" and whether the "relative" is happy to pay them for 1 nights stay is still a token only, not a business transaction.

Did I make my point? (or my clear succinct explaination offended you even more, perhaps)

Guest

10 May 2012, 8.08PM

So your point is alright for a fellow Singaporean citizen/PR neighbour but not a foreigner to rent out that extra room or are you stating that the government should tax our fellow Singaporean citizen/PR neighbour and foreign owner to make it legal?

What is the foundation of your bias?

Are you envious you do not have spare rooms to offer for rent?

What is your point?

Guest

11 May 2012, 7.49AM

I'm no Hotel business man, nor am I a Room Rental specialist.

But the HDB has got clear rules, that disallow Hotel like room rated per night "rentals", as opposed to monthly rated room tenanted rentals, allowed. What's the difference? As I said I am no legal eagle of the HDB to spell it out for you.

Maybe the fine line difference is the potential for disturbance caused by daily "check-ins" and "check-outs", as opposed to monthly?

I am not biased.

The owner is even more scheming claiming the whole world is his "relative", everyone in his flat is his free-lodging "Guest"?!

What is your POINT?

Guest

8 May 2012, 2.35PM

ONLY PAP WILL BELIEVE IN HER LAH !

Guest

8 May 2012, 5.31PM

Alamak!

So simple.

Just say you want to rent for double the rate and when they touch your money, you take back the house?!

But who knows they say Indonesian President Bambang is also their relative?!

So in the end HDB tidak apa and buah bodoh lah?!

Guest

8 May 2012, 8.38PM

Wah...this reason also can be accepted?

Then i have Ang Moh relatives long long ago...think is my grand grand parents linkage... then any Ang Moh come to stay in my place and offer me monetary rewards for giving them lodgings....can also be accepted liao.

Now is time to make some big bucks..from Europeans and Americans liao...

(Master)

gerrythinks

14 May 2012, 9.07PM

Guys

All I wanted to say was that culturally there are many differences. I was hoping my experience would help build a small bridge of understanding between our cultures.

I have seen Jakarta neighbours (not relatives or family members) but a family who lives next door -- Get welcomed into their neighbours home ON A DAILY BASIS for food and even for showers -- because the sole bread winner either lost his job or died or whatever. And this neighbourliness can go on for MONTHS until the families' circumstances improve.

To be honest I am a little envious. Because if I lost my job tomorrow I doubt if my neighbour who I have lived next door to for 9 years would gladly feed and "take my family in".

And so when I say that Indonesians accept the basic "rights" of their extended (up to Planet Pluto) families--this is a fact. Not about ancestors from ang mo land or whatever else that one can bring up to ridicule.

And yes...some of their family members they might not even know.